A Magach-3 Israeli tank bound for a Moscow museum arrived in the capital Wednesday as part of an exchange between Russian and Israeli governments, the RBC news website reported.
The Russian government returned an identical Magach-3 Israeli tank to Israel last month at the request of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The tank had been sent to the Soviet Union to stand on display at the Kubinka Tank Museum after being captured by Syrian troops in 1982 during the Battle of Sultan Yacoub.
Netanyahu said that the tank is the only remaining physical evidence of the battle, in which several Israeli soldiers went missing and personally thanked Putin for returning the vehicle, RIA Novosti reported. The new tank will stand in the spot where the previous Magach-3 was displayed in the Kubinka museum.
Prime Minister Netanyahu is currently visiting Russia for talks with President Putin. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the resumption of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
