The bipartisan group of MPs expressed surprise and disappointment at the fact that Israel, which receives more foreign aid from the US than any other country in the world, has not sent weapons to Ukraine or joined the US sanctions regime. Europe and others.
“They should grow like the rest of the world. I do not understand,” said Sen. Angus King, an independent from Maine, last week. “I understand that it is because they feel they have some red light, a green light from Russia for attacks on Iranian interests in the Middle East … but that is very disappointing, especially given the huge amount of military aid we are providing.”
The United States provides $ 3.8 billion a year in military foreign aid to Israel, in addition to half a billion dollars in missile defense. By comparison, the United States has provided Ukraine with two military aid packages since the start of the Russian invasion, totaling nearly $ 1.5 billion.
Sen. Ben Cardin, a Democrat from Maryland, said he had spoken to the US ambassador to Israel about Israel’s response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. As Israel “tried to find a way to humanitarian aid” for Ukrainian refugees, Cardin said last week that he believed Israel “could do more”.
“They have a lot of capacity, a lot of military capability, so it’s a very developed country, we know that, so I think they could do more,” Cardin told CNN.
Israel has set up a field hospital in western Ukraine, the only country to do so. He also backed UN General Assembly resolutions condemning Russia. But Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett tried to walk a diplomatic rope, calling it a “responsible and measured approach” in a speech in early March.
Bennett has tried to mediate, speaking several times with both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin, although other countries have warned that Putin is not seriously negotiating a ceasefire.
Standing next to Foreign Minister Anthony Blinken on Sunday, Bennett said only the war was coming to an end in his opening remarks, saying Israel was “standing firm with the people of Ukraine” without making any reference to Russia or condemning Putin for the start of the war.
Blinken, on the other hand, began his remarks with efforts to “stop the catastrophic suffering caused by the Russian aggression to the people of Ukraine.” He went on to thank Israel for the field hospital in Ukraine.
During a visit to Israel this weekend, Blinken reiterated that the United States appreciates Israel’s efforts in diplomacy and said it was closely coordinated throughout.
During a press conference with Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, Blinken stressed the US appreciation for Israel’s efforts to help Ukraine during the crisis.
“Speaking to Israel again, we very much appreciate, first of all, the strong denunciation of Russian aggression against Ukraine. We also very much appreciate the Foreign Minister’s commitment to ensure that Israel is not used as a backdoor to avoid sanctions, “said Blinken.
During a summit in Israel’s Negev, with his counterparts from Israel, Morocco, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, Blinken “continued to stress that we do not see it simply as a matter for Ukraine or “This is a global issue. It’s really a global issue, and all these countries have an interest in defending the rule-based order,” a senior State Department official said Monday.
“They all agreed that they would use their level of influence if they had it, on both sides, as well as with others in the region, to push for an end to the war,” the official added.
Israel has good relations with Moscow and Kyiv, and both countries have large Jewish populations. But there is an additional dimension to Israel’s trade with Russia, one that is strategically critical to the Jewish state.
Israel needs Russia’s consent to strike at targets in neighboring Syria, mainly Iranian positions or arms shipments to Lebanon.
“Israel’s non-intervention in Ukraine has allowed the country” not only to protect our interests, but also to be useful, “Bennett said in early March.
The statement came days after Israel’s public broadcaster reported that Bennett had rejected Zelensky’s request that Israel send weapons to Ukraine.
Even ardent supporters of Israel, such as Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, have wondered why one of America’s closest allies is not doing more.
In early March, Graham told Fox that he would “call Israel” after learning that “obviously” Israel had refused a request to send anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine. Zelensky has repeatedly called on Israel to send the Iron Dome short-range missile defense system.
Last weekend, Republican lawmaker Adam Kinzinger of Illinois suggested on Twitter that the billions of dollars a year the United States provides to Israel in military aid should depend on its response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
“I strongly support our relationship with Israel. But supporting friends does not mean that we see differences in the past,” he wrote on Twitter. Kinzinger called it a “battle between good and evil” where “everyone has to choose a side”.
“If we do not want to attack Russia immediately, then our leverage is in the world united in sanctions and aid to the people of Ukraine. That includes everyone and Israel has no special exception. Let us hope they do the right thing,” he said. on Twitter.
Bennett traveled to Moscow and had a three-hour meeting with Putin on March 5, followed by multiple calls to both Putin and Zelensky. Bennett said he was ready to go to Kyiv to assist in mediation efforts after receiving an invitation from Zelensky, but the trip would only take place if progress was made in negotiations between the two sides, a source familiar with the matter told CNN.
But in public, Bennett remained largely silent on Russia. When CNN asked Bennett’s spokesman Keren Hajioff if Israel would take refuge in Zelensky – the only Jewish world leader outside Israel – if he chose to leave Ukraine, the answer was “no comment.” It is a remarkable indication of how far Israel will go to avoid public comment. One of Israel’s fundamental laws is the right of every Jew in the world to “aliyah” and move to Israel, but the prime minister’s office has refused to publicly confirm that it will apply this law to Zelensky.
While some US lawmakers are openly frustrated, others are more aware of Israel’s unique position in the Middle East.
“Israel is surrounded by enemies, Iran, Hezbollah from Syria, Gaza, so I just think they have a very delicate geopolitical balance that they have to maintain,” said Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, a senior Republican member of the Republican Committee. Senate Relations, he told CNN. “Many of the blows they carry out and the things and activities that have to do with Iran in this region require a confrontation with the Russians, so simply at a difficult point. There are just some realities in place, their vulnerability. “
Both Rubio and Sen. Ted Cruz, a Republican from Texas, believe that Israel is doing its best in a sensitive situation.
“Israel is a strong ally of the United States and is surrounded by neighbors in a very dangerous part of the world. It is not Israel’s job to win the war in Ukraine and I think American politicians are using the war in Ukraine to attack Israel. “They are wrong to do so,” Cruz said.
Senator Jacky Rosen, a Democrat from Nevada, stressed Israel’s humanitarian support throughout the ongoing crisis.
“They are taking a lot of Ukrainian refugees, they are offering a lot of humanitarian aid and we just have to keep talking to them,” Rosen said last week. “President and Secretary Blinken will do that.”
