The Ukraine crisis..Israel is stuck between its interests with Russia and the United States

Occupied Jerusalem -

The Israeli government is silent about the Ukrainian crisis and refrains from declaring an official position siding with one of the two poles of the conflict over Kiev, in an effort to preserve its strategic interests that intersect with its traditional ally, the United States, and not to harm its exceptional relations with Russia.

With a non-standard approach to what is happening in Ukraine, Israeli media reported that Tel Aviv, in secret directives, banned the Baltic states from supplying Israeli weapons, anti-tank missiles and aircraft to Ukraine.

Despite this, Israel continues to remain silent and has refrained from commenting in denial or confirming the news reported by the official radio station "Kan", about Kiev's aspiration to conclude arms deals with the military industries of Tel Aviv, or about its circulation to the Baltic countries.

The Israeli flag hangs over Kiev Square during an event organized by pro-Israel activists in the Ukrainian capital, May 14, 2021 (Reuters)

Between Russia and the United States

In a review of the intersection of Tel Aviv's interests between Moscow and Washington, analysts and researchers believe that Israel, since the beginning of the American withdrawal from the Middle East and the decline of its influence, has begun to open areas for new alliances with countries that were previously a red line, and this Israeli trend applies to Russia and China.

In the face of the silence of the Israeli government and its diplomatic approach to avoid angering Moscow and Washington, a report issued by the Institute for National Security Research at Tel Aviv University called for the need to formulate a position that guarantees the maintenance of good relations with Russia and the need to take into account the interests of the United States, which is the trend that expresses the position official of Israel.

Analysts unanimously agree that, through silence about the Ukrainian crisis, Israel seeks to placate Moscow and Washington, due to its concerns and fears of the consequences of any Israeli action that would anger Russia and negatively affect their joint coordination in Syria.

Tel Aviv is experiencing the same whirlpool off Washington, according to researchers and analysts, as it fears that silence about what is happening in Kiev would anger the US administration, which sees Israel as its strategic ally and its upper hand in the Middle East.

in case of war

According to Nimrod Goren, director of the Israeli Institute, Mitvim, which specializes in foreign policy in the Middle East, Israel is in a spiral between the desire to maintain good relations with Russia and the need to take into account American interests.

Goren explained to Al Jazeera Net that the Israeli foreign policy, which succeeded during the term of Yair Lapid, and the government of Naftali Bennett in restoring confidence and strengthening relations with the European Union in particular, obliges Tel Aviv to adopt the path of diplomacy and maintain the same distance from everyone, and thus avoids taking a position as much as possible from The crisis in Eastern Europe, and not taking sides.

However, the director of the institute believes that if a military confrontation erupts and decisions are taken to significantly intensify the diplomatic and economic sanctions imposed on Russia, the policy of the Israeli government should not conflict with the policy of the US administration, which is a strategic ally in the Middle East.

Aside from the Israeli concerns that the Ukrainian crisis might affect the space for maneuvering and coordination with Russia in the Syrian arena, Goren believes that a firm stance by Washington and the West in the face of Moscow’s threats, and certainly their success in a military confrontation, if it erupts and develops, “is in Israel’s interest.” the obvious."

Researcher Antoine Shalhat: Israel distances itself from the Ukraine crisis in order to ensure continued coordination with Russia in Syria (Al-Jazeera)

Iranian nuclear too

The researcher in the Israeli affairs, Antoine Shalhat, says that what is happening in Kiev concerns Israel with two issues, the first is the lack of influence of events and positions on security coordination with Russia in the Syrian territories, which is the coordination that is currently reaching a peak state between the two countries, and the second issue is maintaining coordination in the Middle East with its ally America.

Shalhat explained in his speech to Al-Jazeera Net that Israel distances itself from taking a public position on the crisis in Ukraine in order not to anger America, and also in order to maintain security coordination and the partnership arena with Russia in Syria, as any position or statement issued by Tel Aviv may anger Moscow. Which will not hesitate to hold Israel accountable on the ground from Damascus.

The researcher in the Israeli affairs suggested that Tel Aviv seems concerned that its role and diplomatic dealings between Moscow and Washington in Ukraine will be reflected in the Vienna negotiations on the Iranian nuclear program, which is witnessing a critical stage.

Shalhat pointed out that Tel Aviv, which has a paradoxical and independent position from America on the Iranian nuclear file, fears that any role of Israel in support of the Russian position in the Ukrainian crisis will accelerate Washington's steps towards concluding a new deal and returning to the nuclear agreement with Iran, an agreement that no matter what its clauses oppose. Israel strongly.

In light of the complexities of the Ukrainian scene, Shalhat says, "Israel is caught between the Russian fire and the American fire, and therefore it remains silent in order to satisfy both parties, as it cannot declare publicly and take sides at the expense of another, in order to preserve its interests that intersect between Washington and Moscow."

He explained that Israel will not hesitate to take any steps related to the Ukrainian crisis to show its neutrality, including preventing the Balkan countries from supplying Israeli weapons to Kiev, as it is sending a message to Moscow that it is not against its position in Ukraine, and also shows the administration of President Joe Biden, that it is not doing anything A role or action from behind her back.