Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev is visiting Israel and the Palestinian Authority this weekend in a further sign of the growing ties between Jerusalem and Moscow.

Mr Medvedev's visit comes after a series of meetings between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Vladimir Putin, which dealt with the situation in Syria.

In an interview with the Israeli media before the visit, Mr Medvedev said that Israel's affairs in Syria were "not Russia's jurisdiction". He added that there had been efficient coordination between the Russian and Israeli forces operating there.

Mr Medvedev said he would look into enhancing commercial ties between the two countries - which have suffered due to the financial crisis in Russia - and co-operation over high-tech start-ups.

He will also meet PA President Mahmoud Abbas on Friday in Ramallah. Russia has proposed holding Israeli-Palestinian talks in Moscow, but the plan is unlikely to gain much traction at this point.