The call will represent the first time the two leaders will speak since Hamas’ surprise Oct. 7 attacks on Israeli civilians prompted Israel to declare war against the Gaza-based terror group.

Netanyahu and Putin will speak before the Russian president is expected to meet this week with Chinese leaders in Beijing on a visit that underscores China’s support for Moscow during its war in Ukraine. Russia and China have forged an informal alliance against the United States and other democratic nations that is now complicated by the Israel-Hamas war.

[Interesting, but I doubt Netanyahu will get anywhere with Putin. He’ll see this as an opportunity to strengthen ties to Iran, which of course will never backfire on a country with significant and usually restive Muslim populations. — Ed]