Israel’s policy in the context of russia’s war against Ukraine: a year of neutral assistance

Abstract

Abstract. Ukrainian-Israeli relations underwent significant structural changes in the wake of russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, which began on 24 February 2022. Following the outbreak of russia’s war against Ukraine, the pre-war positive dynamics in Ukrainian-Israeli relations shifted to neutral expressions of support and practical detachment from the war by the Israeli government. Despite undergoing three changes in government during the one-and-a-half years of the war, Israel’s policy of neutrality towards russia’s actions in Ukraine remained consistent, albeit with some differences. This article provides an indepth analysis of Israel’s policies towards Ukraine under the leadership of three Prime Ministers: Naftali Bennett, Yair Lapid, and Benjamin Netanyahu. This article delves into the complex dynamics of the Israeli government’s stance regarding support for Ukraine, focusing on public reactions, practical steps, and reservations. The political activities of each Israeli Prime Minister, coupled with the domestic context and national interests, provide a compelling insight into Israel’s approach towards crucial geopolitical matters. Among these is Israel’s stance of neutrality towards the ongoing war in Ukraine – a stance that warrants a deeper examination. The article unravels the conceptual framework that underpins the foreign policy positions of three subsequent Prime Ministers of the State of Israel with regard to Ukraine against the context of russia’s full-scale war. The research resulted in the author’s author’s hypothesis regarding the geopolitical priorities of the State of Israel. Keywords: Israeli-Ukrainian relations, russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, Middle Eastern Neutrality, geopolitical interests, red lines, Naftali Bennett, Yair Lapid, Benjamin Netanyahu.