JERUSALEM — Russian President Vladimir V. Putin arrived Wednesday night for a visit, the first by a Kremlin leader since Israel was established and another sign of Moscow's desire for a bigger role in the Middle East.
Putin will spend two days in separate talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders, following a meeting in Cairo on Wednesday with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. During a televised news conference in the Egyptian capital, the Russian leader offered to host an international conference on the peace process this fall, an idea embraced by the Palestinians but greeted with caution by Israeli officials.
Putin's visit appears aimed at recapturing clout the Soviet Union once wielded in the region -- then mainly in support of Arab governments -- and at shoring up his standing in Russia by allowing him to play the role of international leader, analysts said.
But the visit, coming amid increasingly close ties between Israel and Russia, also underscores a few disagreements between them. Israel objects to Moscow's planned sale of surface-to-air missiles to Syria and its role in construction of a nuclear power plant in Iran.
Israel and U.S. officials fear that the missiles could end up in the hands of Islamic militant groups and that the Iranian plant will be used to make nuclear weapons.
Israeli leaders plan to raise both issues with Putin.
Russian officials have downplayed the arms deal, saying the missiles have limited range and would serve defensive purposes. Putin told an Israeli television station last week that the weapons would deter warplanes from flying low over the residence of Syrian President Bashar Assad, as Israeli planes have done after attacks on the Jewish state that the Israelis linked to Syria.
"Until those missiles arrive in Syria, there's still room for negotiation," said Mark Regev, spokesman for Israel's Foreign Ministry.
There was also speculation that Putin would press Israel to extradite several wealthy Jewish businessmen who had fled Russia, where they face criminal charges. Three of the fugitives were associates of former Yukos Oil Co. chief Mikhail Khodorkovsky, who is in jail on tax evasion and fraud charges.
A verdict in Khodorkovsky's trial in Moscow, expected Wednesday, was postponed until May 16.
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon last week signaled his unwillingness to turn over the businessmen.
