Press TV- Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to embark on a rare visit to Azerbaijan and Kazakstan amid Israeli media fanfare hailing the regimes common interests with the two Muslim-majority countries.
The two-day tour, which is to begin on Tuesday, is the first one to be made by an incumbent Israeli premier to the region in a quarter century.
Members of the Islamic Party of Azerbaijan's political faction gathered in front of the countrys Foreign Ministry building in the capital, Baku, protesting Netanyahus planned visit to their country.
The Times of Israelhas billed the trip as a vehicle to bolster trade, [and] political support with the two Muslim countries.
Azerbaijan, which supplies 40 percent of Israels oil, is a notable trade partner of the regime. Baku has also maintained controversial, strong military cooperation with Tel Aviv. The two sides have previously signed an agreement on the sale to the Caucasian country of 1.6 billion dollars worth of Israeli drones, anti-aircraft systems, and missiles.
The Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd has announced in the run-up to Netanyahus visit that it would build a drone factory in Baku, while reports pointed to the republics interest in Israels Iron Dome missile system.
The Jerusalem Post has described the bilateral partnership as an iceberg, with no more visible part than a tip. The invisible parts of this iceberg are mutual benefits, it wrote in an opinion piece.
Netanyahu will, however, reportedly spend no more than seven hours in Azerbaijan, after which he will head to Kazakhstan with a reported agenda to discuss the potential provision of counterterrorism training and technologies for the Asian country.
The trip comes amid considerable criticism, even among the traditional allies, of Tel Avivs persistent expansion of illegal settlements on the occupied Palestinian territories.
Azerbaijan shares an extensive border with Iran. Also on Monday, university students gathered in the northwestern Iranian Ardabil Province, which borders the Republic of Azerbaijan, protesting the upcoming visit to the Shia-majority nation by Netanyahu, whom they condemned for committing grave crimes against Palestinians.
The protesters chanted down with Israel and denounced the visit as an unwelcome inroad into Azerbaijan.
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