Israeli, Russian prime ministers vow to fight terrorism together

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev vowed here Thursday to make concerted efforts to fight terrorism.

"Israel, Russia, the U.S. and many other countries share the goal of eliminating the Islamic State," Netanyahu said to the press.

He accused Iran of promoting radical Islam and reiterated Israel's determination to prevent Iran from going nuclear, and from establishing itself militarily in Syria.

He said Israel will also continue to bar Iran from bringing about the establishment of Shiite militias and the arming of Hezbollah "with dangerous weapons aimed at us."

Medvedev responded that both Russia and Israel suffer from "terrorism" which stems from "common roots," claiming it a reason "to fight terror together," local media quoted.

The meeting was scheduled as part of a series of meetings between Russia and Israel over the past year to coordinate their activities in Syria, Israel's northern neighbor.

Russia is fighting alongside the army of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, while Israel has from time to time launched airstrikes in Syria to prevent weapons from being transferred to Hezbollah.

Netanyahu and Medvedev also discussed long-term agricultural cooperation between the two countries, said the Israeli Prime Minister's Office.

During his visit started from Wednesday, Medvedev also met with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, and an opposition leader Isaac Herzog. He is scheduled to meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank city of Jericho on Friday before he returns to Moscow.