Israel's Deputy Absorption Minister To Visit Moscow

Israel's deputy Minister of Immigrant Absorption Yuli Edelstein is coming to Moscow on Monday on the invitation of the Jewish community and will stay in the capital until the end of the week, reported Yaron Gamburg, the press secretary of the Israeli Embassy to Moscow. Edelstein is expected to attend a conference called "Soviet Jews: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow," which is being organised by the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia. According to the press secretary, the formal head of the Israeli ministry of immigrant absorption is the country's Premier Ariel Sharon, but de facto the ministry is headed by Edelstein. Israeli diplomats report that "no political contacts with Russian leaders" will be taking place during Edelstein's visit.