ISRAEL’S TRADE WITH RUSSIA LEAPS BY 25%: Trade between Israel and Russia has grown this year by 25%, officials from both countries revealed. The first six months of 2017 saw increased trade between the nations of about $380 million over the corresponding period last year. Ze’ev Elkin, the cabinet minister responsible for environmental protection and issues connected with Jerusalem said, “There is still great potential for increase in trade and there is much work ahead of us,” Elkin said in reference to ongoing talks since 2013 on signing a free trade agreement with Russia. Temur Ben Yehuda, chairman of the Israeli Russian Business Council said, “We are not only conducting dialogue on increasing trade, we are also signing major agreements between Israel and Russian firms, including Watergen, Assuta and many others,” he said. The increase comes amid tightening cooperation between Israel and Russia on security issues connected with Syria, where the Russian government is engaged in propping up the beleaguered regime of the country’s president, Bashar Assad. Russia’s relations with Israel, which has remained neutral on the Syrian issue, have noticeably improved, with PM Netanyahu traveling to Moscow at least five times in one year. (Times of Israel)