What changes about the war in Ukraine if Netanyahu, Putin’s friend, returns
Certain kingdoms don’t end, they make huge turns and then come back. King Bib Netanyahu seems ready to return to rule Israel. A little more than a year after the arrival of the power of that ‘government of change ‘by Bennett-Lapid who had ended his undisputed 12-year reign, Netanyahu is once again aiming to lead Israel. But Netanyahu’s return could also have implications for general equilibrium in the Middle East and beyond.
Yes, because in his long years in power, Netanyahu has built privileged relationships with several world leaders. Including him, Vladimir Putin. On multiple occasions, Netanyahu has used the privileged relationship built over time with the Kremlin to his political advantage. For example in the management of the crisis in Syria. Or in January 2020, when Netanyahu boasted of his friendship with Putin for another reason, in some ways similar. He had managed to secure the release of the Israeli backpacker Naama Issachar, convicted in Moscow for transporting drugs to the country.
Netanyahu even personally arrived in Moscow to greet Issachar on her release and bring her home. There were only two months left until the elections on March 2 of that year in Israel. Neither Netanyahu nor Putin raised the question of an alleged agreement. Only later was it revealed that, as a gesture of goodwill, Israel agreed to assist Russia in some real estate legal matters concerning the Russian church in Jerusalem.
In the years of King Bibi, Israel and Russia coordinated on the movements in the Syrian skies, to avoid any misunderstanding between the two armies. Russia has also long hoped to play a role in the reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas, and perhaps also in future talks between Israel and the Gaza Strip and between Israel and the Palestinian leadership of the West Bank. UAn example of this involvement was also recorded in 2020, when the Hamas and Fatah delegations held talks in Moscow with the Iranian ambassador to Russia Kazem Jalali to discuss the internal rift in Palestine and the upcoming Palestinian elections.
During these weeks’ election campaign, Netanyahu criticized Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine and urged him to reconsiderin the first public stance in which he criticized Moscow for the war. At the same time, Bibi always seems to weigh her relationship with Putin, hinting that perhaps something could have changed with him at the helm of Israel. So far Israel has tried not to antagonize Russia in the conflict, with ministers stressing the importance of continuing military coordination over Syria’s skies, as well as Israel’s ties to the Russian Jewish community.
Ukraine has called for more Israeli assistance, especially since Russia began purchasing and distributing drones from Iran, a major regional enemy of Israel. Israel has so far resisted requests from the United States, Ukraine and other countries to provide Kiev with offensive and defensive weapons, instead supporting Ukraine with humanitarian aid, helmets and bulletproof vests. Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett attempted to mediate between Russia and Ukraine in the early days of the conflict and Bennett flew to Moscow to meet Putin. Bennett’s successor, Yair Lapid, took a more critical stance towards the invasion, drawing harsh criticism from Russia.
Netanyahu, on the other hand, who could return to government with the support of the far right, seems destined for a slight change of perspective and also a hypothetical mediation role that Netanyahu could use to climb diplomatic positions also in Joe Biden’s United States, given that Bibi himself had privileged relations with Donald Trump.
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