A powerful dictatorship has invaded a democracy, seeking to destroy its national sovereignty. What role should Israel play in this conflict?
How Does Israel Rely on Russia?
How has the Israeli Government responded to this conflict?
What are the future implications based on their involvement?
What does Ukraine want from Israel?
What are the US expectations of Israel in this conflict?
How has the Israeli Government responded to this conflict?
What are the future implications based on their involvement?
What does Ukraine want from Israel?
What are the US expectations of Israel in this conflict?
- Approximately 200,000 Jews live in Ukraine
- Approximately 300,000 Jews live in Russia
- the first capital of Russia was Kiev in the middle ages
- Ukrainians have deep, deep visceral memories of what it was like living under Russian oppression.
- Until our generation, Ukraine would have symbolized everything that was wrong in the relationship between Jews and non-Jews.
How Does Israel Rely on Russia?
- It relies on its ties with the Kremlin for security coordination in Syria
- Russia has a military presence in Syria and where Israeli jets have frequently struck targets said to be weapons caches destined for Israel’s enemies.
- Relies on Moscow sitting at the negotiating table with Iran over its nuclear program
- From Israel’s side, over the last decade, ties with Russia were based on the Israeli strategic community’s recognition that in conflicts with Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran, and Syria, Russia has emerged as a pivotal power broker with a unique ability to escalate or de-escalate confrontations.
- Israel is one of the few countries that has good working relations with both Russia and Ukraine.
How has the Israeli Government responded to this conflict?
- Perhaps, we would have expected the Israeli government to unequivocably stand up to this injustice and unnecessary invasion...
- "While thousands of Israelis have demonstrated in support of Ukraine, the Israeli government’s reaction has been ambivalent. Foreign minister Yair Lapid has denounced Russia, but prime minister Naftali Bennett is more cautious, offering sympathy and solidarity with Ukraine, but no condemnation of Vladimir Putin." - Shalom Hartman Institute
- The Israeli response had been mute until February 4th when Ukraine asked Israel to mediate an effort to end the war
- 400 tons of humanitarian aid — much of it occupying every corner of the Ukrainian Cultural Center’s first floor — has been donated by Israelis, including diapers, food and warm clothes, and that Israel is arranging its transportation to Ukraine.
- Israel did not participate in the first UN vote condemning Russia's attack but Israel last week voted in support of a UN resolution condemning the Russian invasion and demanding an end to its attack on Ukraine.
What are the future implications based on their involvement?
- Jews of Ukraine and Russia could become hostages of a vindictive Putin.
- Self-defense notions - if Israel supports Russia's claim that they invaded Ukraine out of self-defense - does that support Israel's claim to invade Iran out of self-defense?
- Will Israel be Ukraine, a country defending itself against existential threat? Or will Israel be perceived as Russia, a bully, an aggressor, um, launching yet another unnecessary war.
- If Israel sides with Ukraine, will Israel lose all support from Russia when dealing with Iran and Syria?
- Russia has been very involved in the negotiations with Iran. There is a fear that it will delay the Iranian nuclear deal
What is the Israeli Government doing to help Jews in Ukraine?
- The Jewish Agency has announced that it’s setting up emergency evacuation points, five or six points along the Ukrainian border, for any Ukrainian Jew who wants to come to Israel.
- IS THIS A GOOD THING????
- You have the Ukrainian people standing up against a bully, Putin. With a Jewish president, rallying the troops, and then we send planes to pull out Ukrainian Jews. What does this say about Jews' responsibility to the country they live in?
- Is every moment an Aliyah moment?
- IS THIS A GOOD THING????
Does Might Make Right?
What does Ukraine want from Israel?
- At first claimed that they did not care about diplomacy and statements and wanted Israel to send weapons, helmets, and flak jackets
- over Shabbat, Prime Minister Bennet flew to Russia to try to negotiate for peace
- as the first Orthodox Prime Minister, breaking Shabbat was a big deal
- it was seen as a life-saving activity
- As of 3/7, Ukraine is hopeful that Israel will act as negotiators for peace and sees that as more important than sending weapons