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Misconceptions about Israel's Neutrality in the Ukraine-Russia War

(Jerusalem Post) Amb. Mark Regev - Some of Israel's closest friends have felt uncomfortable with its perceived impartiality regarding the ongoing Ukraine war. Yet this presumption, though widespread, is erroneous. Since Russia's February 2022 invasion, Israel's position has been far from even-handed. At the outbreak of the conflict, Foreign Minister Yair Lapid stated: "The Russian attack on Ukraine is a serious violation of the international order. Israel condemns this attack and is ready and willing to offer humanitarian aid to Ukrainian citizens." From the outset, Israel's representatives at the UN emphasized its support for Ukraine's "territorial integrity and sovereignty." In parallel, Israel has given tangible humanitarian assistance to the Ukrainian people: establishing a field hospital in the western Ukrainian city of Mostyska; shipping 100 tons of relief materials to Ukraine, including medical supplies, water purification equipment, tents and blankets; welcoming some 15,000 refugees from the conflict; sending 25,000 ration packs to the city of Kharkiv; and accepting Ukrainian war wounded, military and non-military alike, in Israeli hospitals for specialist medical treatment. Israel has also provided Kyiv with protective equipment such as helmets, body armor, gas masks and mine protection suits. Israel's policy is nuanced, but it cannot be labeled as neutral. Jerusalem aims to support Kyiv within parameters that avert shattering avenues of communication with the Kremlin. This strategy seeks to protect Israel's national security interests, and it also serves the larger global good. While an Israeli decision to supply offensive capabilities to Kyiv would likely have a marginal impact on the Ukrainian battlefield, it could simultaneously undermine Jerusalem's ability to help advance a negotiated agreement when the time is right. The writer, formerly an adviser to the prime minister and former Israeli Ambassador to the UK, is chair of the Abba Eban Institute for Diplomacy at Reichman University.
2022-12-26 00:00:00
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