Ukrainian soldiers use a launcher with U.S.-made Javelin missiles during military exercises in the Donetsk region, Ukraine, on December 23, 2021. Photo: Ukrainian Defense Ministry Press Service.
Weapons supplied by the West to Ukraine have already surfaced near Israel’s border, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told The Jerusalem Post newspaper in an interview that was published on June 22.
Answering questions on his government stance with regard to providing military support to Kiev, Netanyahu argued that Israel is “in a peculiar situation” compared to Western countries, like Poland, Germany and France, that have sent billions of dollars in military aid to Ukraine.
“First of all, we have a close military border with Russia. Our pilots are flying right next to Russian pilots over the skies of Syria,” the prime minister said.
Netanyahu also stressed the importance of maintaining “freedom of action” against Iran, stating that “any systems that we give to Ukraine could be used against us because they could fall into Iranian hands.”
“Second, we also have concerns that any systems that we give to Ukraine would be used against us because they could fall into Iranian hands and be used against us,” he continued. “And by the way, that’s not a theoretical possibility. It actually happened with the Western anti-tank weapons that we now find at our borders. So we have to be very careful here.”
After the start of the Russian military operations last year, several reports revealed that the United States was pressuring Israel to supply weapons directly to Ukraine or allow the export of copies made aboard to the country.
Tel Aviv rejected the idea. However, it took a political stance more supportive of Kiev and provided non-lethal military equipment to its forces, including early warning, radar and electronic warfare systems.
A Newsweek report from June fueled concerns that not all of the Western weapons intended for Ukraine had arrived at their destination. An Israeli defense official told the magazine that Israel had “seen signs” that the weapons in question, including American-made Javelin anti-tank guided missiles, were being smuggled from Ukraine to Iran.
Still, several other reports from earlier this month talked about a possible supply of Israeli Spike anti-tank guided missiles and Merkava main battle tanks to Ukraine via Poland. However, there is no proof that these weapons were transferred to Kiev forces or could be transferred soon.
Netanyahu’s remarks indicate that Israel understands the consequences that could result from providing lethal military support to Ukraine. Russia could restrict Israeli aerial operations and arm its enemies in the Middle East.
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