Yesterday, Wednesday, the Israeli Knesset (parliament) rejected a request from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to deliver a televised speech in front of its public assembly on the Russian war on his country.
And Anadolu Agency reported that the Ukrainian ambassador in Tel Aviv, Yevgeny Kornichuk, submitted a request to Knesset Speaker Mickey Levy that the Ukrainian president deliver a speech from a distance in front of the Israeli parliament members.
Levy responded to Kyiv's request by saying that the request came on the last day of the Knesset's winter session, when its members go on vacation for two months, and the parliament hall will undergo maintenance operations, according to what was reported by the official Israeli "Kan" channel.
The Speaker of the Knesset added that the Knesset building will not be available to the Ukrainian president to deliver a speech from a distance to address the Knesset’s plenary (120 members), but he can address the deputies, but not inside the building.
The Knesset frequently held extraordinary sessions during its recesses to discuss urgent issues.
The Israeli Walla website stated that the Ukrainian authorities were disappointed with the Knesset's response, because they wanted Zelensky to deliver his speech on a large screen in front of the Knesset in its entirety.
MPs criticize
Israeli deputies criticized the Knesset Speaker’s response to Zelensky’s request, as Representative Eli Avidar (belonging to the “Yisrael Beitenu” party and a member of the government) sent a letter to Levy stating, “The Knesset is not the executive arm of the government, and you must accept the request of a state leader who wants to speak before my representatives.” The people of Israel."
Arab Member of the Knesset, Ibtisam Maraana (from the opposition Labor Party), said in a tweet via Twitter that she is "ready to come every day, every hour to the Knesset to welcome and listen to Zelensky."
On Tuesday, the Ukrainian president addressed the British Parliament, to be the first foreign leader to address members of the British legislature.
Prior to that, in the early days of the Russo-Ukrainian War, Zelensky addressed members of the European Parliament.
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett is making mediation efforts between Ukraine and Russia, and has previously called Zelensky four times since Bennett's surprise visit to Moscow and his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, last Saturday.
Israel has offered to mediate to resolve the crisis between Kyiv and Moscow at the request of Ukraine.
A few days ago, Zelensky asked Tel Aviv to supply Ukraine with ammunition and protection devices such as helmets and military protective clothing, but Israel has not responded until now.
Israel did not join the Western powers in imposing severe sanctions on Russia in response to its war on Ukraine since February 24, but Tel Aviv voted on March 2 in favor of the United Nations General Assembly resolution condemning the Russian war on Ukraine.