Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett held telephone talks with Ukrainian President Volodymir Zelenski and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, and has been trying to find a middle ground between the two sides. Israel has tried to seek a middle ground between the two countries by offering to mediate in what are Bennett's second talks with the two presidents since Russia invaded Ukraine last week.
The first call was with Zelenski, who posted on his Twitter account that they discussed "Russian aggression". Bennett's office released a similar statement saying the phone call was a follow-up "to their conversation last Friday, in which they agreed to maintain ongoing communication". Bennett also thanked the Foreign Ministry and its staff for working to enable Israeli citizens in Ukraine who want to leave to do so. Both leaders also referred to the Russian missile attack near the Babyn Yar Holocaust memorial site in Kiev.
Minutes after Bennett's call to Ukraine, the Israeli prime minister made telephone contact with the Russian leader. According to the Kremlin, Putin had conveyed to Bennett that 'the key to ending the crisis in Ukraine was an agreement that would protect Russia's defensive interests'.
Since Russia invaded Ukraine on Thursday, Israel has sought a middle ground to mediate the conflict. Tel Aviv's aim is to maintain contact with Western allies, but at the same time avoid a rift with Moscow, as evidenced by the Israeli government's recent policies. On the one hand, Israel has sent humanitarian aid to Ukraine and voted in the UN General Assembly to rebuke Russia for invading Ukraine, but on the other, it has refrained from openly condemning the invasion and from co-sponsoring a UN Security Council resolution condemning the Russian attack. The prime minister himself has said that Israel seeks to "help in silence", maintaining its own strategic interests. "From the beginning, the State of Israel has adopted a measured and responsible approach, which allows us not only to protect our interests, but also to be helpful," he said.
This distancing from Russia's condemnation is mainly due to the presence of Russian troops in Syrian airspace, where Israeli aircraft also often operate against Iranian-affiliated militias.
The Israeli prime minister also said he hoped the conflict would be resolved before the war develops further and the humanitarian consequences are worse. "We pray for the welfare of the citizens of Ukraine and hope that further bloodshed will be avoided. We are pursuing a measured and responsible policy," said cabinet members.
There is still hope from Kiev that Israel will eventually provide arms and supplies to help deal with Russian offensives in Ukraine, even after repeated Israeli refusals. According to the Ukrainian ambassador to Tel Aviv, Yevgen Korniychuk, Ukrainian officials have raised the arms issue on multiple occasions, most recently during the first phone call between Zelenski and Bennett last Friday.
Israel's middle ground position has caused some divisions within the Israeli executive. As reported by Army Radio, Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid told a private meeting that Israel must "stand on the right side and condemn dictators who attack democracies". Ladip called it a "serious violation of international order", and claimed that Israel condemned the attack, something that Prime Minister Bennett has not yet affirmed.
Dissatisfaction with Bennett's position has also been voiced in Europe, where several European diplomats, on condition of anonymity, stated that "Israel cannot decide not to side with European countries and the United States".