Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper reported that a new diplomatic crisis has erupted between Israel and Russia, in light of Israeli disappointment with Moscow's position on the escalation in the occupied territories.
Israeli circles indicated that Moscow did not condemn the Beit Hanina operation in Jerusalem, which resulted in the killing of 7 settlers, and linked it to the Jenin camp massacre.
Yesterday, Sunday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov called on the Palestinians and Israel to stop the escalation and avoid an outbreak of armed confrontation.
And the newspaper added that the Russian comparison sparked anger in Tel Aviv, and prompted officials in the Israeli Foreign Ministry to say that there is no place for a balance between the two matters.
Visit to Kiev
On the other hand, Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen informed his US counterpart, Anthony Blinken, that he intends to visit Kyiv soon, at a time when Washington is pressuring Tel Aviv to supply Ukraine with defensive weapons.
Cohen said - in a joint press conference with Blinken yesterday evening, Monday - that he spoke a few days ago with his Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Kuleba, and informed him that the Israeli embassy in Kyiv will return to its full activity in the coming weeks.
Cohen also said that he had expressed to Kuliba his intention to visit Kyiv and to be the first minister from the Middle East to visit the city in the near future, according to the state broadcaster's Kan channel.
Blinken had also touched during a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier Monday evening the issue of Israeli aid to Ukraine.
Until now, Israel has avoided aiding Ukraine militarily, "fearing a harsh reaction from Moscow," according to the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper.