Overseas Minister Yair Lapid undertook the thankless activity of condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine this week. A day earlier, on Feb. 22, Israel issued an anemic announcement supporting Ukraine’s “territorial integrity” with out mentioning Russia. The US and the West weren’t glad and the Russians have been irritated. At about the identical time, Russia’s UN ambassador introduced that his nation condemns Israel’s occupation of the Golan Heights.
This reference to Israel’s Golan takeover from Syria 55 years in the past signaled officers in Jerusalem that the time had come to get off the fence. Israel’s coronary heart is within the democratic Western camp, however Russian President Vladimir Putin is on the Syrian aspect of its Golan Heights border fence. Lapid even calls the Russians “our northern neighbors.” The Russian radars deployed in Syria lock on Israeli fighter jets each time they take off, even from Israel’s southernmost air bases. This week, Israel reportedly launched two raids on Syria, bombing Iranian-backed targets on the Syrian Golan and one other equally harmful bombing run within the Damascus area.
Israel’s feeble response to the Russian aggression prompted important criticism within the West. Lapid was subjected to biting feedback from European colleagues over Israel’s neutrality. Prime Minister Naftali Bennett summoned Lapid and Protection Minister Benny Gantz, with Soviet-born Finance Minister Avigdor Liberman becoming a member of remotely, for an pressing dialogue. Their resolution was to undertake a more durable tone, doing the minimal required to satisfy the bar set by the West however keep away from crossing the crimson line drawn within the East. Having the dangerous luck to be Israel’s overseas minister, Lapid was saddled with the mission.
Lapid stated with out a lot enthusiasm, refusing to reply reporters’ questions, “The Russian assault on Ukraine is a severe violation of the international order. Israel condemns that assault and is prepared and ready to supply humanitarian help to Ukrainian residents.”
Shortly, Yair Netanyahu, son of former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, popped up on Twitter with a Russian-language broadside claiming, “Yair Lapid doesn’t symbolize most Israeli residents.” Two hours later, Bennett addressed the commencement ceremony of an officers’ coaching course within the Negev. On dwell TV, Bennett expressed condolences over the Ukrainians’ struggling however failed to say Russia.
In line with experiences reaching Jerusalem, the Russians took Bennett’s assertion comparatively nicely and hinted that past its criticism on the UN of Israel’s Golan occupation (which has all the time been Moscow’s place), Moscow would deal with Israel’s criticism. However with the Russian invasion of Kyiv, Israel will seemingly should take a firmer stand quickly.
Lapid spoke on the phone Feb. 24 with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The US will seemingly demand assurances that Israel will vote in favor of a harsh UN denunciation of Moscow. Will Israel do nothing, as did following the 2014 Russian invasion of the Crimean Peninsula? Israel merely abstained from that UN vote, with the official excuse being a normal strike by its Overseas Ministry employees.
Israel should place itself inside the American camp, however the query is how strongly. The cooperation between the Israeli air pressure and Russian forces in Syria is a singular strategic asset for Israel. The mechanism designed to keep away from friction between the 2 sides, together with unintended clashes, was put in place underneath Netanyahu, linking the IDF with a Russian state of affairs room and has been working easily. Following the October 2021 meeting between Putin and Bennett in Sochi, Israel reportedly started placing Iranian-linked targets in Syria with a heavy Russian army presence, such because the Mediterranean port metropolis of Latakia. Amid the Iran nuclear deal negotiations in Vienna, Israel can not afford to surrender entry to Iranian targets on its northern border and should maintain Putin joyful.
There’s additionally an ethical dimension to the battle. On one hand, most Israelis know Putin is the aggressor and regard Russia’s habits as brutal. {That a} European state that did nothing to impress a combat has fallen prey to a regional predator with out anybody coming to its protection is a supply of tension for a lot of Israelis. The Russian assault on Ukraine awakens existential anxiousness for some, who worry the Jews have nobody to belief however themselves.
The flip aspect to this image is that Putin is a reasonably standard determine in Israel. On tattered billboards nonetheless towering over some Tel Aviv streets from the 4 2019-2021 election cycles, a smiling Putin still shakes Netanyahu’s hand. For a lot of Israelis, Putin represents the Crimson Military that crushed the Nazis in World Battle II, whereas the Ukrainians stir reminiscences of murderous anti-Semitism and Nazi collaboration. Between 800,000 and 1.2 million Jews have been slaughtered in Ukraine by the Nazis and their native collaborators, a few of them their Ukrainian neighbors. This horror is difficult to erase from Israel’s collective reminiscence.
The Vienna negotiations with Iran are one more factor of Israel’s dilemma. Western analysts have recognized a dramatic shift Iranian shift in current weeks, from dragging toes and losing time to accelerated negotiations. In line with these assessments, the Iranians are involved {that a} Western defeat over Ukraine would pressure US President Joe Biden to undertake a more durable line on one other entrance: the talks with Iran. “Biden can not afford to kneel in entrance of two dictators in the identical month,” a senior Israeli political supply informed Al-Monitor on situation of anonymity. “The Iranians have realized that until they signal now, every part may very well be turned on its head later.”
Israeli officers surmise that Israel can have no alternative however to affix a UN condemnation of Russia when requested to take action. “If we get there, we are going to think about it,” a senior Israeli diplomatic supply in Jerusalem informed Al-Monitor on situation of anonymity. Requested whether or not clarifications had been conveyed to Moscow following Lapid’s condemnation this week, the supply stated, “No. That might be a show of weak point. We all know the Russians. Shows of weak point don’t go down nicely with Moscow. Demonstrations of energy do. The Russians absolutely perceive our state of affairs. We are going to do what serves Israeli pursuits, however we won’t overlook our place in historical past and the rules of morality and justice.”
