Israel has many reasons for being on the fence and cannot take a firm stance on the Russian-Ukraine war. First, it is a special ally of the United States, and is committed to strategic coordination with its ally. Secondly, it is in a state of potential war with Iran.
The Jewish state has a domestic reason for additional hesitation, which is the presence of two large communities inside Israel, of Russian and Ukrainian origin, that put great pressure on the government to mediate between the two conflicting states.
It is worth noting that Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett conducted some shuttle trips between the two capitals, and invited the two leaderships to meet in the occupied Jerusalem around a dialogue table to end the war.
Jews Work on Saturdays Owing to Ukraine War
On March 5, a plane secretly took off from Tel Aviv to Moscow carrying a delegation of dignitaries on board. According to Jewish tradition, Jews are not allowed to work on Saturdays unless it is a matter of saving human lives, a report by the BBC stated.
On board were two observant Jews who were working when they normally would not They were Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Housing Minister Ze'ev Elkin, as well as four officials, according to the British broadcast. It was said that Elkin was there to help with translation as his mother tongue is Russian as he was born and raised in Kharkiv, and he has relatives there.
The Israelis headed to the residence of the Russian leader in the Kremlin. Bennett was the first foreign leader to speak to Vladimir Putin personally regarding the Russia-Ukraine war.
Israel has important relations with both Russia and Ukraine, and Bennett was trying to play the role of mediator between the two sides.
Israel is concerned about what is happening in Ukraine. At least a quarter of a million Jews in Ukraine are eligible for Israeli citizenship under the so-called "Law of Return."
Israel has established a semi-permanent channel of dialogue with the Russians, or our "northern neighbours," as one Israeli official recently described them. Russia controls the skies over Syria as Israel carries out constant air strikes against what it says are transfers of arms and militants linked to Iran, a country it sees as an existential threat.
Israel Won't Risk Relations with Moscow
To a large extent, the Israeli leadership decided not to succumb to the West's approach to Russia. For example, it did not join many countries that imposed sanctions on Moscow.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed Israel's mediation between his country and Russia, but he also did not hide his frustration. When asked as a Jew if he had hopes of a "Jewish state" taking initiatives towards his country, he said, "Our relations are not bad. Not bad at all," but added, referring to Bennett, "I don't think he wraps himself in our flag."
On February 15, Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper reported that Israel had rejected Ukraine's request to provide it with the "Iron Dome" anti-missile system, fearing for its relationship with Russia.
The Hebrew newspaper said that Israel rejected the request, which was initially submitted by Ukraine to the United States, and then directly to Israel, “in order not to risk a confrontation with Russia,” and added: “Such equipment could have put Israel in a state of severe crisis towards Moscow."
The explicit Israeli bias towards the US and Western position would cost Israel severe security risks, both on the front of the open confrontation with Iran in Syria and Lebanon, or even on the southern borders with the Gaza Strip, especially if Moscow chose to respond to Israel on these fronts.
Iran Dilemma
Military sources revealed to Asharq Awsaat pan-Arab newspaper the Israeli army and Mossad fear that the "Western military alliance would isolate Russia and thus form alliances with Iran."
Officials in Tel Aviv said that "the recent events will lead to a military and political rapprochement between Russia and Iran." They say that "imposing trade sanctions on Russia could make Putin put Iran under his auspices."
Israeli security officials did not rule out that the war in Ukraine would negatively affect the war and make it difficult for the superpowers to reach understandings on the nuclear agreement with Iran, through talks in Vienna. They said, "This will delay the signing of a new agreement, and even mix the papers in the negotiations."
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