al Jazeera:
Zelenskyy ‘shocked’ by Israel’s failure to give Ukraine weapons
Kyiv has been asking for air defence systems and other arms from Israel since shortly after the war started in February.
Ukraine has specifically requested Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile batteries for its fight against Russia - but to no avail [AP]
Published On 25 Sep 202225 Sep 2022
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he is “in shock” at Israel’s failure to give Kyiv anti-missile systems to help counter Russian attacks.
The president has been asking for the weapons since shortly after the war started in February. Zelenskyy mentioned Israel’s Iron Dome system, often used to intercept rockets fired by Palestinian fighters in Gaza.
“I don’t know what happened to Israel. I’m honestly, frankly – I am in shock because I don’t understand why they couldn’t give us air defences,” he said.
Zelenskyy’s comments were stronger than those he made in March when he chided Israel for its reluctance to send weapons. At the time, Israel was non-committal, saying it would help Ukraine as much as it could.
Zelenskyy made the latest remarks in an interview with French reporters on Wednesday and his office released a recording on Saturday.
‘Stating the facts’
Israel, which has condemned the Russian invasion, is wary of straining ties with Moscow, a powerbroker in neighbouring Syria where Israeli forces frequently launch attacks on what they say are pro-Iranian fighters.
In the same light, Israel sent humanitarian aid to Ukraine and expressed support for its people, but the government did not join international sanctions against Russia.
Russia in the past accused Israel of supporting “neo-Nazis” in Ukraine.
“I understand – they have a difficult situation, regarding the situation with Syria and Russia,” Zelenskyy said, adding he was not making accusations.
“I am stating the facts. My conversations with the Israeli leadership have done nothing to help Ukraine.”
In a phone call with Zelenskyy on September 1, Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid said he and his counterpart “talked about the fighting situation in Ukraine”, and he expressed his “condolences for the dead and injured in the war”.
Lapid said he has called for “a diplomatic solution to end the fighting” in Ukraine.
SOURCE: NEWS AGENCIES
Israel is betting that Washington's support for Israel is completely unconditional.
ReplyDeleteAlmost every other country that has played the Neutral game over Ukraine, or even supported Moscow's line that the war was caused by NATO or US provocation, has found that its position is duly noted.
Those that have had reason to seek some Soft Power favour or support from the Yanks in the last six months have been politely or not so politely reminded that their position on Ukraine is "unhelpful"...wakaka.
Like it or not, the Wankees still have a lot of Soft and not so Soft Power in the world...except over Israel..hahaha..