Weapons bought by Ukraine from Western countries were seen near the Israeli borders. This was expressed in an interview with Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of the Jewish state, with The Jerusalem Post.
Therefore, he added that Tel Aviv is in no hurry to send any weapons to Kiev.
“We … of any system [вооружений]What was given to Ukraine can be used against us because they can fall into the hands of Iran and be used against us. It’s not even a theoretical possibility.
This has actually already happened with Western anti-tank guns that we now find near the Israeli borders. Netanyahu stressed that we need to be extremely careful.
According to him, Israel is in a “special position” different from “any Western country that supports Poland, Germany or Ukraine”.
“We have a close military border with Russia. Our pilots fly side by side with Russian pilots in the skies of Syria. “I think it’s important that we protect our freedom of movement against Iran’s attempts to establish a military position on our northern border,” he said.
Kiev has repeatedly turned to Tel Aviv with requests for military assistance, especially for the supply of the Iron Dome air defense system. However, Israel has always rejected Ukraine’s demands. At the same time, Kiev received humanitarian aid and non-lethal military equipment. For example, Israeli experts were supposed to help Ukraine install a new air raid warning system.
Benjamin Netanyahu also expressed in an interview his hope that Israel could be a mediator in future Russia-Ukraine peace talks. He also stressed that Israelis are against killing people in Ukraine.
“Of course we mourn the tragedy, this terrible loss of people in Ukraine. We want this to end,” he said.
According to the politician, Israeli mediation is “a purely hypothetical scenario, but highly probable.”
Finally, Netanyahu praised the “balance” approach of the Israeli leadership.
“You have to be very careful in international relations. There is sympathy, there is help in the field of civil defense. But I think we have to draw the line very carefully, and people understand that,” the head of the Israeli government summed up.
At the same time, he pointed to the understanding that Israel’s position has found among Western countries. “They understand that Israel is in a different situation than the others,” he said.
On June 21, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant spoke by phone with Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov.
Authorities discussed the situation in the war zone in Ukraine and the alleged involvement of Iran in the conflict. The press service of the Israeli Ministry of Defense said, “Minister Galant was briefed on the developments on the ground and expressed his concerns about the humanitarian situation in Ukraine.” The two ministers agreed on the continuation of contacts.
On the same day, Andriy Yermak, head of the office of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, declarationIsrael can help Kiev defend itself against drone attacks. According to him, it is Israel that can help the Ukrainian side today in protecting the country from Iranian drones. Yermak also expressed hope that a joint initiative will be formed in this regard.
Earlier, Yermak accused the Israeli government of being “neutral” on the conflict in Ukraine and urged Tel Aviv to provide more assistance to Kiev.