Israel has offered to mediate between Russia and the West as the US and Europe try to bolster Ukraine’s resistance to Moscow’s unprecedented attack.
There is little hope that Israel can make significant progress with Russia, but the proposal represents a reversal for Jerusalem, which initially sought to remain neutral in the conflict.
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s surprise visit to Moscow last week, followed by consultations with European leaders and Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.
Anthony Blinken Blinken authorizes 0 million for defense aid to Ukraine after Biden’s request Biden sends 0 million for defense aid to Ukraine Live stream: Mosque shelled in Mariupol, Russian attacks continue in Kyiv MORE, failed to bring tangible easing measures to Russian President Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Vladimirovich PutinTrump rips Biden amid Ukraine conflict Bipartisan group of senators meet with officials, visit refugee sites in Poland Republicans seize on rising gas prices amid Ukraine conflict MORE resolve to take over Ukraine.
But Bennett’s trip underscored Israel’s fragile position, as Jerusalem sits between the United States and its security relationship with Moscow.
“I’m not kidding. These are high stakes for Israel,” said Jonathan Schanzer, senior vice president of research at the Defense of Democracy Foundation. “Here, Israel’s core national interests are at stake, and they’re trying to figure out how to preserve them while trying to avert a crisis.”
Israel relies on communication with Russian forces controlling Syrian airspace to avoid confrontation as it conducts counterterrorism operations against Iranian proxies and forces.
Hundreds of thousands of Russian-Israelis and Ukrainian-Israelis, as well as Israeli concerns about Jewish communities in Ukraine, further complicate its role.
Moscow is also a negotiator and participant in the nuclear deal with Iran, which Israel opposes.
Bennett met with Putin for three hours in Moscow on Saturday, which was an exceptional signal to the Israelis about the importance of the trip, as it required the Prime Minister of an Orthodox Jew to violate the Sabbath.
“In Israel, it was very noticeable,” said Nathan Sachs, director of the Brookings Institution Center for Middle East Policy, adding that he “projects onto others that this is important.”
An Israeli official told The Times of Israel that Bennett also discussed the nuclear deal with Putin during a meeting in Moscow.
“Israel is interested in good relations with Russia because it is against the nuclear deal and is concerned about a new nuclear deal that is not in Israel’s interests,” said Rafaella A. Del Sarto, assistant professor of the Middle East. studies at Johns Hopkins SAIS Europe.
“Of course, this is an aspect of maintaining a working relationship with Russia,” she added.
Bennett’s meeting in Moscow came as Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov put forward new demands on the Iran deal amid talks to renew it. Friday’s demands forced European negotiators to call a “pause” in the talks.
Bennett coordinated his trip to Moscow with the US, Germany, France and Ukraine. He met with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin after talks with Putin and called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who is in Kyiv.
“I went there to help dialogue between all parties, of course with the blessing and support of all the players,” Bennett said at a cabinet meeting the day after the meeting in Moscow.
Bennett has so far refused to openly condemn Russia for invading Ukraine, although Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid did. The two are in an agreement on the division of powers for the rotation of premierships.
“Israel is fully committed to doing everything possible to stop the war in Ukraine. We condemned the Russian invasion and continue to do so,” Lapid said at a meeting with Blinken in Latvia on Monday.
“Israel is in talks with both sides, both Russia and Ukraine, and we are working in full coordination with our biggest ally, the United States, and with our European partners,” Lapid added.
Ukrainian officials have sharply criticized the Israeli government’s stance, and the Ukrainian ambassador to the United States said Israel had turned down a request for military aid.
Zelenskiy reportedly said in response to a question at a press conference, “I don’t feel like the Israeli prime minister is wrapped in the Ukrainian flag.”
On Twitter, however, Zelenskiy expressed reserved gratitude for Bennett’s offers of mediation.
“Talked to [Naftali Bennett]. Thanked Israel for the mediation efforts. Discussed ways to end war and violence,” he tweeted on March 8.
The Biden administration has welcomed recent Israeli attempts to play a more active diplomatic role.
“We greatly appreciate the efforts that any of our close partners, friends and allies can make to see if there is an opportunity to end the war,” Blinken said during a meeting with Lapid.
Blinken’s remarks appear to have mitigated rare criticism from Jerusalem’s staunchly pro-Israeli lawmakers.
Senator Lindsey Graham
Lindsey Olin GrahamSunday Preview: Russian Invasion of Ukraine Enters Third Week Manchin Holds ‘Positive’ Meeting with Biden’s Supreme Court Nominee The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Emergent – Biden and Congress Target Russian Oil MORE ( RS.C).), for example, retracted his previous criticism after Ukraine said Israel refused to send military aid, telling The Hill that what he was told “may have been inaccurate”.
“I am satisfied after meeting them [the Israelis]. I used to worry,” he said.
Israel’s diplomatic efforts and the condemnation of Lapid also seem to move Jerusalem out of the group of countries that have refrained from joining President Biden.
Joe Biden Blinken authorized $0 million in defense aid for Ukraine following Biden’s request. Trump vomits Biden amid conflict in Ukraine. Five things to know about the $0.5 trillion spending bill United Arab Emirates.
“Our Israeli partners have made it clear to us that they strongly oppose the undisguised use of force, undisguised aggression against a sovereign state. They did — they made it very clear in private. They have made this very clear in public,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said Thursday.
“When it comes to other countries, other organizations that may have been or may be under protection, or may not have made such a clear statement, look, we have said before that now is not the time to sit on the sidelines,” said is he. added.
Israel may face increasingly tough choices in confronting Russian aggression in Ukraine as brutality escalates.
On Thursday, the Israeli government reportedly reversed course on Zelenskiy’s request to address its parliament, the Knesset, initially saying it could not host the embattled Ukrainian leader practically due to scheduling and technical issues. Earlier, Zelensky addressed the EU Parliament and the UK Parliament.
Jerusalem may also have to take steps to avoid US sanctions as various countries punish Russian oligarchs abroad. Israeli companies with Russian and Belarusian investors are likely to be forced to abandon these partnerships.
Sanctions announced on Thursday by Britain on Roman Abramovich forced Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust memorial museum, to announce that they are suspending their partnership with a Russian Israeli billionaire who was reportedly preparing a donation of tens of millions of dollars just recently. month.