Leaked document says US can push Israel on Ukraine
A recent report said there has been a recent shift in Israel's stance, with a decision taken for the first time to authorise the sale of defensive military equipment to Kyiv.
The United States believes Israel can be pressured or persuaded into changing its stance on Ukraine and providing Kyiv with “lethal aid,” according to a leaked Pentagon document seen by American media outlets.
The document, titled “Israel: Pathways to Providing Lethal Aid to Ukraine,” is one of a trove of Pentagon documents that were posted on several social media sites and appear to detail US and NATO aid to Ukraine, but may have been altered or used as part of a misinformation campaign.
The document is one of several relating to Israel, including another document that alleged that senior Mossad officials encouraged spy agency members and citizens to protest the government’s judicial overhaul plans. The accuracy of that document has been denied by the spy agency and questioned by experts.
The document regarding possible Israeli arms supplies to Ukraine was first reported by CNN, which said that Jerusalem “likely will consider providing lethal aid under increased US pressure or a perceived degradation” in its relationship with Russia.
Israel has until now resisted providing weapons to Ukraine following Russia’s invasion in February 2022. One major reason appears to be its strategic need to maintain freedom of operations in Syria, where Russian forces largely control the airspace.
The New York Times on Sunday detailed the weapons systems the US wanted Israel to supply, including the Barak-8 and Spyder surface-to-air missiles and Spike anti-tank guided missiles.
Ukraine has long demanded that Israel supply it with weapons, particularly anti-missile defences.
A recent report said there has been a recent shift in Israel’s stance, with a decision taken for the first time to authorise the sale of defensive military equipment to Kyiv.
According to the Walla news site, which cited Israeli and Ukrainian officials, Jerusalem approved export licenses for two Israeli companies to sell electronic warfare systems with a range of some 40 kilometres that could be used to defend against drone attacks.
Russia has sent thousands of Iranian-made suicide drones to attack targets across Ukraine, particularly power stations and other crucial infrastructure.
At the beginning of February, Russia warned Israel against supplying weapons to Ukraine.
Israel’s refusal to send weapons has contributed to the perception that the Jewish state has staked out a neutral position on the war.
In the first months of the war, Israel sought to use its unique position enabled by its close working ties with both Russia and Ukraine to serve as a mediator between the parties.
Then-prime minister Naftali Bennett flew to Moscow and held a series of calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky over several weeks.
However, the effort failed to bear fruit and Bennett shelved the initiative altogether as his own political position at home worsened.
In response to the leaked document, a senior Israeli official, speaking on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to discuss the assessment publicly, said Israel had taken “a very clear stand in support of Ukraine since Day 1 and had decided to focus on humanitarian aid”.
TIMES OF ISRAEL, AGENCIES
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