Russian offensive against Ukraine embarrasses Israel
Foreign Minister Yair Lapid (L) with Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett in Jerusalem, February 20, 2022. AFP - TSAFRIR ABAYOV
Text by: RFI Follow
1 min
Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine, but he recalled Israel's "
deep and lasting relations
" with both Kiev and Moscow.
Advertising
Read more
With our correspondent in Jerusalem,
Sami Boukhelifa
For Israel, Moscow is an unwavering ally in the Middle East.
Because Russia, an ally of the Damascus regime, controls the Syrian sky.
But Syria is also home to Iranian militias seen by Israel as an
existential threat
.
Regularly, the Jewish state air force
bombs
their positions with the blessing of Russia.
"
It seems that the Israeli government does not want to infringe on its freedom of action in Syria against Iranian targets,
" explains Emmanuel Navon, professor of international relations at Tel Aviv University.
And this freedom of action depends a lot on the agreement of Vladimir Putin.
Israel
does not wish to alienate Vladimir Putin
.
»
Naftali Bennett's "cautious" silence
However, Emmanuel Navon invites Israel to adopt a more decisive position in the face of this attack against Ukraine and to condemn Russia more firmly.
“
Because of our position in the Western camp, our particular relations with the United States and Europe, but even from a point of view of realpolitik, I do not think that Israel will benefit from this hushed language vis-à-vis -towards Russia.
Because in any case, the day Vladimir Putin wishes to put an end to our freedom of action in Syria, he will do so regardless of our position.
Putin is not at all someone you can count on.
»
This Friday, the Israeli press also noted the "
cautious
" silence of the Prime Minister of the Hebrew State.
Naftali Bennett, refused to condemn the Russian attack on Ukraine.
Newsletter
Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
google-play-badge_EN
Israel
Ukraine
Russia
Naftali Bennett
Diplomacy