JERUSALEM (AP) — A Russian jet recently penetrated Israeli airspace but was not shot down thanks to an open communication system between the two countries, Israel's defense minister said Sunday as tensions continued to flare between Ankara and Moscow after Turkish troops downed a Russian warplane. Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon said the plane entered about a mile (1.5 kilometers) into Israeli airspace by "mistake" and immediately turned around back to Syria when the Russians were notified. Yaalon told Israel Radio that after Russia announced its air campaign in Syria, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, along with his military chief of staff and other officials, met with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Israel has avoided taking sides in the Syrian conflict that pits President Bashar Assad's government against various militant forces, including the Islamic State group.