{"id":1080332,"date":"2023-01-03T14:10:50","date_gmt":"2023-01-03T19:10:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bugaluu.com\/news\/incoming-israeli-foreign-minister-shocks-by-previewing-pro-russian-policies\/1080332\/"},"modified":"2023-01-03T14:10:50","modified_gmt":"2023-01-03T19:10:50","slug":"incoming-israeli-foreign-minister-shocks-by-previewing-pro-russian-policies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bugaluu.com\/news\/incoming-israeli-foreign-minister-shocks-by-previewing-pro-russian-policies\/1080332\/","title":{"rendered":"Incoming Israeli Foreign Minister Shocks By Previewing Pro-Russian Policies"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Incoming Israeli Foreign Minister Shocks By Previewing Pro-Russian Policies<\/span><\/p>\n

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Israel’s new government under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is signaling a huge policy shift regarding both the Ukraine war and Israel’s relations with Russia, even suggesting a more openly ‘pro-Moscow’ stance.<\/p>\n

Israel\u2019s Foreign Minister Eli Cohen in a Monday speech previewing future policy said<\/a> in the context of the Ukraine conflict, “On the issue of Russia and Ukraine we will do on thing for sure \u2013 speak less in public.”\u00a0<\/strong>Interestingly it comes after months of rising tensions with Kiev, based on Israel’s repeat refusal to provide the Ukrainians with its Iron Dome anti-air defense systems and other weaponry. However, the prior government was much more vocally supportive of Ukraine, in line with key Western allies like the United States and Britain.<\/p>\n

Israel has limited itself to supplying humanitarian and other non-lethal aid, causing President Zelensky to recently lash out. In October Zelensky went so far as to chastise Israeli officials for turning “a blind eye to Russian terror”<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Zelensky also said at the time<\/a>, which came in the context of a virtual address before Israeli journalists: “Is it [Israel] with the democratic world, which is fighting side by side against the existential threat to its existence?\u00a0Or with those who turn a blind eye to Russian terror, even when the cost of continued terror is the complete destruction of global security<\/strong>?”<\/p>\n

Fast-forward to a new hard-right Israeli government having days ago been sworn-in, and it appears that Zelensky’s fiery denunciation and pressure campaign has backfired<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But it seems Zelensky saw it coming, given the following comments at the end of November<\/a>:\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Israel’s incoming prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s “personal relationship” with Russia’s Vladimir Putin could affect the “historical relations” between Israel and Ukraine<\/strong>,\u00a0President Volodymyr Zelensky<\/a>\u00a0told\u00a0The New York Times’ DealBook Summit on Wednesday.<\/em><\/p>\n

“Of course, if [Netanyahu] wants to maintain his personal relations with Putin, he can continue doing what he’s doing,” <\/strong>Zelensky said at the summit, held in New York City.<\/em><\/p>\n

“But if he wants to maintain the historical relations between Israel and the Ukrainian people, you have to do everything you can to save as many people as possible.”<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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1 BREAKING: New Israeli foreign minister Eli Cohen signaled a policy shift on Ukraine in his 1st speech hinting the new government will take a more pro-Russian line. He said he will speak on Tuesday with Russian FM Lavrov \u2013 1st such call since the Russian invasion of Ukraine<\/p>\n

\u2014 Barak Ravid (@BarakRavid) January 2, 2023<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The incoming Israeli FM in the Monday remarks<\/a> vowed a new “responsible” policy<\/strong> on the war in Ukraine, describing that the foreign ministry “will prepare a detailed presentation to the security cabinet on this issue.” He did say that Israeli humanitarian aid to the war-ravaged country will continue, but clearly this is a sign the door has been shut regarding the prospect of lethal aid in the near future.<\/p>\n

According to Axios<\/em>\u00a0Middle East correspondent Barak Ravid, this marks a dramatic shift in Russia-Ukraine policy compared to the last caretaker government which was in place during the initial invasion and throughout the first 10 months of war. Ravid writes<\/a>:\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Why it matters: Cohen\u2019s predecessor Yair Lapid led a tough line Russia, condemned it publicly & even said the Russian military committed war crimes<\/strong>. Since the invasion Lapid didn\u2019t speak to Lavrov & after he assumed office as caretaker prime minister he didn\u2019t speak to Putin.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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Russia\u2019s Putin welcomes Netanyahu back to power in Israel https:\/\/t.co\/7neWZuimVP<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) January 1, 2023<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Ravid further noted Cohen is expected to hold a phone call with his Russian counterpart:\u00a0<\/p>\n

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New Israeli foreign minister Eli Cohen signaled a policy shift on Ukraine in his 1st speech hinting the new government will take a more pro-Russian line<\/strong>. He said he will speak on Tuesday with Russian FM Lavrov<\/strong> \u2013 1st such call since the Russian invasion of Ukraine.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Meanwhile, an awkward standoff could be developing at the UN<\/a>, given Ukrainian and Israeli officials are seeking to ramp up pressure on each other concerning votes and policy positions before the world body.<\/p>\n

As for Israel wanting to keep up tighter relations with Moscow, one prime factor is that it needs Russia to continue giving a quiet green light to Israeli Air Force strikes inside Syria. Israel says it is acting against Iranian assets inside the country, as well as Hezbollah. Russia has a significant military presence in Syria at the invitation of President Assad, but has not intervened against Israeli aggression in semi-frequently bombing places like Damascus<\/a>, despite its limited verbal denunciations.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Tyler Durden<\/a><\/span>
\nTue, 01\/03\/2023 – 18:40<\/span><\/p>\n

From:Zerohedge<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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