The first visit for a Soviet or Russian leader, Putin in Israel on April 27

The assistant for the Israeli President Moshe Katsav said yesterday that the Russian President Vladimir Putin will pay by the end of April a historical visit to the Israel which is the first of its kind by a Russian or Soviet leader to Israel.

Katsav assistant, Ron Bin Yashai said that Putin will arrive in Israel on April 27 in a two day visit where he will be meeting with the prime minister Ariel Sharon and other Israeli officials. Sharon, who is of a Russian origin, visited Moscow three times since he assumed his post in Israel in 2001.