Landmark returned to Russia

Israel is returning a tsarist-era landmark in the heart of Jerusalem to Russia, before Israel's leader visits Moscow.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office has not disclosed details of his agenda in Russia on Friday.

But he is expected to urge Moscow not to sell sophisticated missiles to Syria and to support efforts to keep Iran's nuclear ambitions in check.

The transfer of the property, known as Sergei's Courtyard, appears to be a goodwill gesture.

The property, a stone building built in 1890 to accommodate Russian pilgrims to the Holy Land, is part of a complex known as the Russian Compound.

Israel bought most of the larger complex from the Soviet Union in the 1960s.

After the Soviet Union severed ties with the Jewish state following the 1967 Mideast war, Israel seized control of Sergei's Courtyard.

The two countries restored ties in 1991.