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Israel’s balancing act over Ukraine grows trickier after drone strikes | Israel’s balancing act over Ukraine grows trickier after drone strikes |
(4 months later) | |
Ukraine says Russia is using Iranian-made drones to attack cities and civilian infrastructure | Ukraine says Russia is using Iranian-made drones to attack cities and civilian infrastructure |
Israel has repeated its long-standing refusal to sell air defence weapons to Ukraine despite a fresh appeal from Kyiv after this week's "kamikaze" drone strikes. | Israel has repeated its long-standing refusal to sell air defence weapons to Ukraine despite a fresh appeal from Kyiv after this week's "kamikaze" drone strikes. |
The weapons unleashed by Russia were reportedly Shahed-136 drones supplied by Iran - causing Kyiv to make a fresh demand for help saying Tehran's "complicity" should be a "red line" for Israel. | The weapons unleashed by Russia were reportedly Shahed-136 drones supplied by Iran - causing Kyiv to make a fresh demand for help saying Tehran's "complicity" should be a "red line" for Israel. |
Israel and Iran are avowed enemies, but the Israelis have so far refrained from providing Ukraine with weapons in a bid to maintain relations with Moscow. | Israel and Iran are avowed enemies, but the Israelis have so far refrained from providing Ukraine with weapons in a bid to maintain relations with Moscow. |
On Wednesday, Israel's Defence Minister Benny Gantz said their position had not changed. | On Wednesday, Israel's Defence Minister Benny Gantz said their position had not changed. |
"Our policy toward Ukraine is clear - we are on the side of the West, we provided humanitarian aid, took care of refugees and the wounded," he told Israel's Kan radio. | "Our policy toward Ukraine is clear - we are on the side of the West, we provided humanitarian aid, took care of refugees and the wounded," he told Israel's Kan radio. |
"For obvious reasons, we did not want to involve ourselves in combat systems. This was the policy until now. I am careful about this matter." | "For obvious reasons, we did not want to involve ourselves in combat systems. This was the policy until now. I am careful about this matter." |
Speaking later to EU diplomats, Mr Gantz said: "We will not provide weapon systems." | Speaking later to EU diplomats, Mr Gantz said: "We will not provide weapon systems." |
Benny Gantz says Israel will support Ukraine with humanitarian aid and life-saving defensive equipment | Benny Gantz says Israel will support Ukraine with humanitarian aid and life-saving defensive equipment |
At least eight people were killed in Monday's explosive drone attacks in Ukraine. | At least eight people were killed in Monday's explosive drone attacks in Ukraine. |
The US believes the drones - or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) - were transferred from Iran to Russia in violation of a United Nations resolution linked to the Iran nuclear deal, which bars transfers of certain military technologies. Iran denies supplying the drones to Moscow. | The US believes the drones - or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) - were transferred from Iran to Russia in violation of a United Nations resolution linked to the Iran nuclear deal, which bars transfers of certain military technologies. Iran denies supplying the drones to Moscow. |
After the attacks Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said the country would request air defence systems from Israel "without delay". | After the attacks Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said the country would request air defence systems from Israel "without delay". |
"Now that Iran has effectively become an accomplice in the crime of aggression against Ukraine, I think that if there is anyone in Israel who is still unsure about whether or not to help Ukraine, this hesitation should now dissipate," he said. | "Now that Iran has effectively become an accomplice in the crime of aggression against Ukraine, I think that if there is anyone in Israel who is still unsure about whether or not to help Ukraine, this hesitation should now dissipate," he said. |
"The same drones that are destroying Ukraine today are also aimed at Israel," he added. | "The same drones that are destroying Ukraine today are also aimed at Israel," he added. |
'Freedom of action' in Syria | 'Freedom of action' in Syria |
Monday's UAV strikes followed a growing number of Russian missile attacks against Ukrainian cities. | Monday's UAV strikes followed a growing number of Russian missile attacks against Ukrainian cities. |
The issue of air defences rose to the top of the agenda at meetings in Brussels last week of Nato defence ministers, who said countering Russian strikes would require a patchwork of systems. | The issue of air defences rose to the top of the agenda at meetings in Brussels last week of Nato defence ministers, who said countering Russian strikes would require a patchwork of systems. |
Iran has officially denied supplying Russia with drones such as the Shahed-136 for use in Ukraine | Iran has officially denied supplying Russia with drones such as the Shahed-136 for use in Ukraine |
Nato countries have been supplying Ukraine with defensive weapons since the start of the war, while the US and Europe recently pledged to send more advanced systems. | Nato countries have been supplying Ukraine with defensive weapons since the start of the war, while the US and Europe recently pledged to send more advanced systems. |
This week, Ukraine told Israel it wanted to obtain weapons, including Iron Dome anti-rocket batteries, Barak (or "Lightning") 8 systems to defend against ship-launched missiles, Patriot surface-to-air missiles, and the new "Iron Beam" anti-rocket laser device. | This week, Ukraine told Israel it wanted to obtain weapons, including Iron Dome anti-rocket batteries, Barak (or "Lightning") 8 systems to defend against ship-launched missiles, Patriot surface-to-air missiles, and the new "Iron Beam" anti-rocket laser device. |
During a speech to the Israeli parliament in March, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky pressured lawmakers to help, saying: "Everybody knows that your missile defence systems are the best." | During a speech to the Israeli parliament in March, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky pressured lawmakers to help, saying: "Everybody knows that your missile defence systems are the best." |
Israel's best known air defences are its Iron Dome batteries, jointly developed with the US, which are primarily used to shoot down short-range rockets fired by Palestinian militants. During recent conflicts with militants in Gaza the system has intercepted around 90% of projectiles that crossed into Israeli territory and were headed for populated areas, according to the military. | Israel's best known air defences are its Iron Dome batteries, jointly developed with the US, which are primarily used to shoot down short-range rockets fired by Palestinian militants. During recent conflicts with militants in Gaza the system has intercepted around 90% of projectiles that crossed into Israeli territory and were headed for populated areas, according to the military. |
Ukraine is highly interested in obtaining the Iron Dome missile defence system from Israel | Ukraine is highly interested in obtaining the Iron Dome missile defence system from Israel |
But analysts say it would have limited effectiveness in Ukraine, whose land mass is around 30 times that of Israel, and which Russia targets with much longer-range weapons, including cruise missiles. | But analysts say it would have limited effectiveness in Ukraine, whose land mass is around 30 times that of Israel, and which Russia targets with much longer-range weapons, including cruise missiles. |
Israel's reluctance to be drawn into weapons sales to Ukraine - even amid Iran's reported arming of Russia - stems from the impact it believes the decision could have in the Middle East. | Israel's reluctance to be drawn into weapons sales to Ukraine - even amid Iran's reported arming of Russia - stems from the impact it believes the decision could have in the Middle East. |
Israel effectively treats Russia like a neighbouring power with whom it "walks on eggshells", according to the Israeli military analyst Alex Fishman. | Israel effectively treats Russia like a neighbouring power with whom it "walks on eggshells", according to the Israeli military analyst Alex Fishman. |
Russia has controlled much of the airspace over Israel's northern neighbour Syria since it entered the civil war in 2015 to prop up President Bashar al-Assad's regime. Israel frequently launches air strikes into Syria targeting Iranian proxy fighters and Iranian weapons transfers to the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. | Russia has controlled much of the airspace over Israel's northern neighbour Syria since it entered the civil war in 2015 to prop up President Bashar al-Assad's regime. Israel frequently launches air strikes into Syria targeting Iranian proxy fighters and Iranian weapons transfers to the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. |
"The Russians are sitting on our borders, in the Golan mountains, in Syria and along the Mediterranean shores, the navies are close all the time. Israel [can't] be in an open conflict with the Russians," Mr Fishman told the BBC. | "The Russians are sitting on our borders, in the Golan mountains, in Syria and along the Mediterranean shores, the navies are close all the time. Israel [can't] be in an open conflict with the Russians," Mr Fishman told the BBC. |
Israel's military informs Russia ahead of impending air strikes in Syria, involving a hotline officially known as "the Russian-Israeli joint work group on prevention of dangerous incidents in Syria". | Israel's military informs Russia ahead of impending air strikes in Syria, involving a hotline officially known as "the Russian-Israeli joint work group on prevention of dangerous incidents in Syria". |
Russian troops are stationed in Syria to support President Bashar al-Assad's government | Russian troops are stationed in Syria to support President Bashar al-Assad's government |
Preserving this - what is known in Israel as military "freedom of action" in Syria - has been a priority for Israel's security establishment. Its concern, among others, is that aggravating Moscow would lead to further Iranian entrenchment in Syria, and advanced weapons getting to Hezbollah. | Preserving this - what is known in Israel as military "freedom of action" in Syria - has been a priority for Israel's security establishment. Its concern, among others, is that aggravating Moscow would lead to further Iranian entrenchment in Syria, and advanced weapons getting to Hezbollah. |
When an Israeli government minister at the weekend called for Israel to help arm Ukraine, the leadership got a flavour of how Moscow might respond. | When an Israeli government minister at the weekend called for Israel to help arm Ukraine, the leadership got a flavour of how Moscow might respond. |
"It will destroy the relations between [Russia and Israel]," said Dmitry Medvedev, a former Russian president and a close ally of President Vladimir Putin. | "It will destroy the relations between [Russia and Israel]," said Dmitry Medvedev, a former Russian president and a close ally of President Vladimir Putin. |
Israeli officials did not comment on a media report on Wednesday that claimed Israel had not carried out strikes in Syria for over a month. The report led some to question whether its co-ordination with Moscow had deteriorated. | Israeli officials did not comment on a media report on Wednesday that claimed Israel had not carried out strikes in Syria for over a month. The report led some to question whether its co-ordination with Moscow had deteriorated. |
Concern for Jewish community | Concern for Jewish community |
Israel was also pressured again by President Zelensky, who last month spoke of his "shock" that "Israel did not provide us with anything. Nothing. Zero." | Israel was also pressured again by President Zelensky, who last month spoke of his "shock" that "Israel did not provide us with anything. Nothing. Zero." |
Mr Fishman, the military analyst, said Israel's historical ties with both Russia and Ukraine were as much of a consideration as the diplomatic and military constraints. | Mr Fishman, the military analyst, said Israel's historical ties with both Russia and Ukraine were as much of a consideration as the diplomatic and military constraints. |
"The first priority for Israeli foreign policy is the Jewish community," he said. | "The first priority for Israeli foreign policy is the Jewish community," he said. |
Israel has seen an influx of more than a million Jews from the former Soviet Union since its collapse in 1989. | Israel has seen an influx of more than a million Jews from the former Soviet Union since its collapse in 1989. |
The invasion of Ukraine triggered a mass migration of at least one in eight of Russia's remaining Jewish population - by August 20,500 of Russia's estimated total of 165,000 Jews had emigrated to Israel. | The invasion of Ukraine triggered a mass migration of at least one in eight of Russia's remaining Jewish population - by August 20,500 of Russia's estimated total of 165,000 Jews had emigrated to Israel. |
Russia's justice ministry has gone to court in a bid to shut down the Russian branch of the Jewish Agency | Russia's justice ministry has gone to court in a bid to shut down the Russian branch of the Jewish Agency |
Ukraine also has one of the biggest Jewish communities in Europe. An estimated 15,000 Ukrainian refugees are living in Israel, about a third of whom have qualified for Israeli citizenship under the Law of Return through having at least one Jewish grandparent. | Ukraine also has one of the biggest Jewish communities in Europe. An estimated 15,000 Ukrainian refugees are living in Israel, about a third of whom have qualified for Israeli citizenship under the Law of Return through having at least one Jewish grandparent. |
But the Jewish Agency, which facilitates migration of Jews around the world to Israel, has been under pressure in Moscow. | But the Jewish Agency, which facilitates migration of Jews around the world to Israel, has been under pressure in Moscow. |
In July, Russia's justice ministry accused it of violating privacy laws and said it should be shut down, triggering a diplomatic row between Israel and Russia. | In July, Russia's justice ministry accused it of violating privacy laws and said it should be shut down, triggering a diplomatic row between Israel and Russia. |
"If we sell the Ukrainians such a [weapons] system, the first step is the Russians will get rid of the Jewish agency," said Mr Fishman. | "If we sell the Ukrainians such a [weapons] system, the first step is the Russians will get rid of the Jewish agency," said Mr Fishman. |
Related Topics | |
Russia-Ukraine war | |
Israel | |
Kyiv | |
Russia | |
Iran | |
Drones | |
Ukraine |
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