Moscow and Israel: New Joint Projects and Humanitarian Partnership
The delegation of the Government of Moscow discussed economic cooperation, interfaith dialogue, and scientific and educational programs in Israel.
From February 16 to 18, an official visit the delegation of the Government of Moscow to the State of Israel took place. The delegation was headed by Sergey Cheremin, Minister of the Government of Moscow and Head of the Department for External Economic and International Relations of Moscow. The delegation included representatives of the Western and South‑Western Administrative Districts of Moscow, as well as business and public organizations of the capital. The program was organized by the Department for External Economic and International Relations of Moscow with the assistance of the Moscow Centre for International Cooperation.
The central business event was an economic conference that brought together representatives of government authorities, diplomatic corps, and business communities from both countries. Participants discussed the expansion of trade and economic ties, investment cooperation, digitalization of urban infrastructure, healthcare modernization, as well as the development of scientific and educational exchanges.
Special emphasis was placed on establishing direct contacts between entrepreneurs from Moscow and Israel and launching joint projects. This format allowed for a transition from discussion to practical cooperation.
Sergey Cheremin presented Moscow as one of the world’s leading megacities and a hub for innovative development. He emphasized that municipal cooperation with Israeli partners has been consistently developing on the basis of the Protocol on Partnership between Moscow and Tel Aviv (2001) and the Protocol on Mutual Understanding between Moscow and Jerusalem (1998). Since the early 2000s, cooperation has encompassed healthcare, education, science, security, digital solutions, and humanitarian projects.
Particular attention was paid to the significant potential for further interaction: the introduction of advanced medical technologies, the expansion of academic contacts (including with Tel Aviv University), and the exchange of experience in the digital transformation of the urban environment.
As part of the conference, an archival photo exhibition from the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Main Archive Directorate of Moscow was presented, dedicated to the history of diplomatic relations between the two countries. The exposition highlighted the continuity and resilience of bilateral ties.
A working meeting was also held in Tel Aviv between Sergey Cheremin and representatives of Russian compatriot organizations. The meeting was attended by Anatoly Viktorov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to Israel; Diana Magad, Head of the Russian House in Tel Aviv; Vladimir Platonov, President of the Moscow Chamber of Commerce and Industry; and Hero of Russia, cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin.
Participants discussed the history of partnership relations between Moscow and Tel Aviv, as well as current issues of supporting the Russian diaspora in Israel. Compatriots delivered thematic reports highlighting their contributions to key areas of the country’s life: the development of high technologies, the preservation of historical memory, and the promotion of sports. The meeting was moderated by Ilya Levin, Chairman of the Coordination Council of Organizations of Russian Compatriots (KSORS) of Israel.
On February 17, the delegation took part in a wreath‑laying ceremony at the Red Army Victory Monument in the city of Netanya. The event became a symbol of preserving historical memory and shared responsibility for the truth about World War II. As part of the ceremony, Hieromonk Photios and the male choir “Arkhangelsky Glas” performed songs of the war years.
During the visit to Netanya, a meeting was held with city officials to discuss the development of inter‑municipal cooperation. On the same day, a Memorandum was signed between the Administration of the Gagarin District of Moscow and the Municipality of Kfar Yassif, providing for the exchange of delegations and the implementation of joint projects.
A significant humanitarian event was the third interfaith conference in Jerusalem, which gathered more than 230 participants – diplomats and representatives of the world’s leading religions. The forum was dedicated to strengthening interreligious peace and countering extremism. Sergey Cheremin presented Moscow’s experience as a multi‑confessional metropolis with a systematic model of interaction between government authorities and religious organizations, built on respect, legal regulation, and joint social work. The cultural program of the conference featured performances by Hieromonk Photios, the male chamber choir of the Zaikonospassky Stavropegic Monastery, and the choir of the Annunciation Church in Kfar Yassif.
The cultural and educational program of the visit, organized by the Department for External Economic and International Relations of Moscow together with cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin, the Moscow Planetarium, and the Planetenia Centre, included events in science and education. A ceremony was held in Netanya at the bust of Yuri Gagarin with the participation of cosmonaut and Hero of the Russian Federation Fyodor Yurchikhin, who delivered a lecture on the prospects of lunar exploration and the development of crewed spaceflight.
A photo exhibition by Fyodor Yurchikhin, “Our Home is Earth,” featuring images taken during expeditions on the International Space Station, was also presented. The Moscow Planetarium conducted masterclasses on space visualization. These events attracted great interest among young people and educators and contributed to the popularization of science.
The visit confirmed the enduring nature of the partnership between Moscow and Israeli cities, facilitated the expansion of business, inter‑municipal, and humanitarian contacts, and opened new opportunities for joint projects in the economy, science, culture, and education.