Israel has tried to toe a neutral line on Ukraine, but comments from the Israeli foreign minister and a blistering response from the Russian foreign ministry has imperiled the two states’ relations, reports Joe Lauria.
Bennett and Putin meet in October 2021. (Russian president)
By Joe Lauria
Special to Consortium News
From the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine Israel has refused to join the West’s economic war against Moscow, maintaining a neutral stance that as positioned it as a possible broker to end the conflict.
But all that appears to have changed with remarks by Israel’s foreign minister in a Twitter post on Sunday, the day the massacre at Bucha was revealed and before any investigation could be conducted.
Foreign Minister Yair Lapid wrote: “It is impossible to remain indifferent in the face of the horrific images from the city of Bucha near Kyiv, from after the Russian army left. Intentionally harming a civilian population is a war crime and I strongly condemn it.”
Israel’s ambassador to Ukraine also implied that Russia had committed a war crime. “Deeply shocked by the photos from #Bucha. Killing of civilians is a war crime and cannot be justified,” Ambassador Michael Brodsky tweeted on Sunday.
Earlier, on March 13, during a visit to Romania, Lapid had tweeted: “… like Romania, Israel condemns the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It’s without justification, and we call on Russia to stop its firing and attacks, and to resolve this conflict around the negotiating table.”
Balancing Act
The Israeli foreign ministry tried to distance itself from the ambassador’s remarks. Haaretz reported: “Asked if the Foreign Ministry’s official position was that Russia had committed war crimes in Ukraine, a spokesman replied: ‘No. It’s a tweet by the ambassador regarding the photos. He didn’t blame Russia.'”
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, who flew to Moscow on March 5 to meet with President Vladimir Putin (and was condemned for it), has made no comment about the Bucha incident. Israel is trying to maintain a balancing act between Moscow and Washington, which cannot be pleased with Israel not joining the economic war. Russia and Israel have long maintained good relations, with Moscow even allowing Israel to conduct bombing raids on Syria.
But years of goodwill have now been put on the line with Foreign Minister Lapid’s remarks. And now Russia has struck back. Sergey Ivanov, head of the department of diplomacy and consular service at the Foreign Ministry’s Diplomatic Academy, wrote a scathing critique of Israel on Wednesday, posted on the ministry’s Telegram page. It holds nothing back, openly condemning Israel for a variety of sins, including its treatment of the Palestinians.
Ivanov wrote that many Western journalists and political analysts have opportunistically become overnight “Ukraine experts” just as Western politicians, such as Lapid, are making rash statements to boost their popularity.
“Serious politicians, especially at such a high level as Minister Lapid, have no right to talk idly,” Ivanov warned. “They should be aware of the possible consequences of what they say, including with regard to relations with Russia.” He wrote:
“It is especially regrettable that these ill-considered statements have not been made by a Western official (Russians have long become immune to what they say) but by the Foreign Minister of Israel, a major regional partner with which Russia has a decades-long history of multifaceted relations. Moreover, these statements could undermine trust in Israel as a country that wanted to mediate the settlement of the crisis around Ukraine, which is evident from Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s actions, such as calls to President Vladimir Putin, a visit to Moscow and contacts on this issue with the main players.”
Moscow’s Real View on Palestine
Kalandia checkpoint from West Bank into Jerusalem. (Joe Lauria)
Ivanov then unloaded on Israel’s unjustified behavior towards the Palestinians, signaling that Israel has forfeited any right to criticize Russia. With its “settlements” and continued occupation, Israel has continually undermined any peace settlement leading to a “two state solution,” Ivanov wrote. “It is all the more strange to hear anti-Russia statements from the Foreign Minister of Israel – the country that has been largely responsible, over many decades, for the failure to achieve a peaceful solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. It is one of the lingering regional problems that continues to affect the lives of millions of people and their futures, as well as international security,” he said.
Ivanov then unloaded on Israel’s policy towards Lebanon:
“Neither does Israel have peace with Lebanon. With that country, it has failed to settle matters such as their land and maritime border, division of water resources, and the repatriation of several hundred thousand Palestinian refugees, who have found refuge in Lebanon. Following Israel’s large-scale blood-letting offensive war against Lebanon in 2006, Israeli aircraft continue their regular incursions into that Arab country’s airspace, incursions that flagrantly violate its sovereignty and UN Security Council Resolution 1701.”
The Russian attack on Israel’s Gaza policy is fiercer still:
“Even according to Western human rights groups, which take an overtly biased stance on most problems, promoting the Anglo-Saxon agenda, Israel’s actions are reminiscent of the apartheid regime, which ruled South Africa until 1994. Over 2.5 million Palestinians living in the West Bank are crammed into scattered areas and are effectively isolated from each other by a system of motorways. The Israeli authorities are pursuing a deliberate policy of confiscating Palestinian lands, as well as demolishing Palestinian buildings on a regular basis.
The situation regarding the Gaza Strip deserves special attention. It is a rather unique example from the historical, political, and demographic perspectives. In fact, 80 percent of the people living in one of the world’s most densely populated areas, where some 2 million people share an area of 362 square kilometres, found themselves there against their will. They are refugees chased from their ancestral lands. In fact, most of the people living there were forced into a reservation. They are like prisoners in a huge prison under an open sky, fenced off for many years by Israel’s impenetrable sea, air and almost complete overland blockade.”
Most directly challenging Israel-Russia relations, the piece goes on to unmask what appears to be Moscow’s true feelings about allowing Israel to bomb Syria:
“Under the pretext of ensuring its national security, Israel has for several years delivered air strikes at targets in the SAR, this on top of the existing differences with Damascus. These actions grossly violate international law, trample upon Syria’s sovereignty, and run the risk of further escalating confrontation in the region. They have repeatedly led to Syrian civilian casualties, including among children, not to mention the damage done to the combat potential of the Syrian armed forces and accordingly to the efficacy of their efforts to eliminate the terrorist presence on Syrian soil.
Attacks by the Israeli Air Force are directly threatening the Russian military personnel who are providing assistance to the legitimate Syrian authorities in their fight against terrorism. Fifteen Russian officers were killed in an air strike on a Syrian facility in Latakia on September 17, 2018. Israel wrongfully believes that the incident has been forgotten. However, even after that tragedy, on multiple occasions, Israeli pilots on combat missions in Syrian and Lebanese airspace used civilian aircraft as shields, thus putting them in great danger. And once again, we are hearing the same claims that the air raids are to eliminate threats to Israel’s national security.”
The piece calls for Israel to consider its own conduct before it blames others.
“Back to Yair Lapid’s statement in the context of the recent events around Ukraine, specifically that “war is not the way to resolve conflicts.” Perhaps, in this case, the Israeli leadership will consider immediately starting talks with Palestine, in order to implement the UN’s two-state solution? Or maybe the foreign minister of Israel, who said that “the Russian attack on Ukraine is a grave violation of the international order,” could review the foundations of this order, for educational purposes?
He may remember that this order stands on the UN Charter and the decisions of the UN and primarily its Security Council. Perhaps it would be helpful for Israel to take a look at its own conduct with a bit of healthy self-criticism before it allows itself to comment on how Russia defends its legitimate security interests.”
The Holocaust
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, used to adoring crowds in the West, was met with harsh criticism when he addressed the Knesset on March 20. He dared to compare Russia’s invasion to the Holocaust, whitewashing Ukrainian fascists’ role in the real Holocaust. Zelensky was accused by a Knesset member of trying “to rewrite history and erase the involvement of the Ukrainian people in the extermination of Jews.” Ivanov wrote:
“In our opinion, it is blasphemous for Israel to voice support for the Kiev regime, which has openly started Nazifying all aspects of state and public life, and it is impossible to interpret Mr Lapid’s words in any other way. This betrays the memory of numerous Jews who were tortured to death by Bandera’s henchmen in Babiy Yar and in other locations in Ukraine, Poland and Belarus. We hope that Tel Aviv will modify its rhetoric in this connection, and that it will objectively assess the Kiev regime’s persistent neo-Nazi practices.”
The gloves have clearly come off in Moscow — against the U.S. and its European junior partners, and now against Israel. It’s not clear what will happen to Israel-Russia relations and how it might impact the war. But it seems clear the Russian Foreign Ministry is speaking its mind and doesn’t care anymore.
Joe Lauria is editor-in-chief of Consortium News and a former U.N. correspondent for The Wall Street Journal, Boston Globe, and numerous other newspapers, including The Montreal Gazette and The Star of Johannesburg. He was an investigative reporter for the Sunday Times of London, a financial reporter for Bloomberg News and began his professional work as a 19-year old stringer for The New York Times. He can be reached at [email protected] and followed on Twitter @unjoe
If there’s one thing Israel is an expert on it’s “War Crimes” , which they commit hourly.
“”(russia) wrote a scathing critique of Israel on Wednesday, posted on the ministry’s Telegram page.””
he that’ll teach ’em won’t it!
Great article. Troubled times.
It is hard to imagine Israel serving as a broker in any event, given its close ties with the US.
Well done! This needed saying, international paradigm shifts are so very revealing when push comes to shove.
Another excellent example of Consortium News being the standard to which others can and should aspire.
Man vs. Man, a.k.a., the Cain and Able Syndrome.
Israel cannot drop a nuclear bomb in the region without suffering from the effects of radiation themselves. Can Israel actually believe they can alienate themselves to the point that Russia does not reinforce the efforts of Iran, connecting Iran, Syria and Hezbollah even stronger? Russia could become the new heel against Israel as Hezbollah in Lebanon has been. Putin is too experienced more than many world leaders combined to be outsmarted by knee jerk comments that ultimately display the true thoughts that diplomatic Statesmen throughout the world let slip through their twitter fingers.
“Sunday, the day the massacre at Bucha was revealed”
That’s not what I’ve read on Consortium News, at least not conclusively.
Have you seen proof that CN readers haven’t?
Joe Lauria wrote both articles and both times reported that Sunday was the day the massacres were revealed to the world, not the day that they were committed.
Great article.
One lesson from this is that It appears that among Russian leadership there seems to surface significantly different attitudes if not full fledged policy divergence yet. However as this is war we must consider total deception in all realms including military diplomatic and political on all sides including officially neutral countries like Israel.
Is the article from Russian foreign affairs academy another deception like faking attack on Kiev. Is Lavrov negotiated in Turkey forwarded to Kremlin and flatly rejected recent peace proposal to end the war containing worthless western guarantees of nuke free neutral Ukraine, no mention of Denazification and leaving Crimea and Donbas status unresolved for decade in a pre war legal status not suggesting political defeat in reality of total Russian military victory and effective demilitarization already 90% achieved? Or Is it another deception, probing of western diplomatic response to possibility of deep compromise deceptively insinuating at least partial success of western total economic and psychological warfare on Russian elites seeking way out ? Very strange indeed. And if it was the response was loud and clear as West via their puppet Zelenski rejected their own proposal as well, replaying Minsk II agreement charade. Western demagogues chose total war to annihilate Russian state even if it kills them and one way or another billion others. That’s the fact.
Another piece of puzzle is recent conflict between Putin’s secretary and PR man Peskov and General Kadyrov, one of most hawkish Chechen generals in Russian Army that oversees operations specifically against Azov Nazis in Mariupol and specifically dealing with Denazification. What Russian general staff of thinking about fighting another war in Ukraine in just few years if Nazis remain influencing power of Kiev regime, now in position playing saviors, martyrs of the nation?
While I cannot fathom why such real or fake internal differences would surface in however obscure media in recent days amid almost (propaganda) monolithic NATO and political puppetry show in EU. Are those differences seem to pop up also within Israeli government resulting from factional alignments as far as Russian intervention and inevitable multipolar world order is concerned, or it is a another deceit?
The fact is that the war is effectively over and all points of special operation in Ukraine put forward by Putin are almost achieved or conditions for achieving them were already created with no much need of further diplomacy if not for any other reason but complete lack of credibility of NATO and their Kiev puppets. For nuke free neutrality and demilitarization Russian military bases, denying access to Black Sea and full control of airspace would do better than western guarantees.
If not a outright nuclear war western propaganda seem to want new iron curtain around the world only to lock themselves up from the world. Three quarters of the world will gladly throw away keys.
Fully agree with the other commenters on what a spectacular report this is on a spectacular development.
In my view, Russia appears to understand the banking oligarchy / mafia who controls the western Establishment, both governments and media, and for whom Israel is a pet project. They understand the pirate mafia’s strategy of destabilization, regime change, and resource plundering. (And Russia has vast resources.) They know the mafia’s Ukraine regime change in 2014 was a stepping stone to a planned regime change in Russia.
This banking pirate oligarchy is a thoroughly bad-faith actor. They care nothing for the people of Ukraine, Russia, Europe, America, or Palestine. The Russians had no choice but to respond in kind before it was too late.
CNFan
I’m glad you mentioned 2014. It should be mentioned in every article coming out of our non-mainstream sources. It was the beginning of this war with Hillary’s plans of the regime change she mentioned in her infamous emails. It’s still the goal of the US and it’s amazing the plotters don’t see the writing on the wall. Also, most people don’t know Bucha was happily seeing off the Russian soldiers who did not kill the people the western medias blames on Russia. The Nazis running Ukraine did that, and, gee, it worked out as planned with the world falling all over itself in sympathy for Ukrainians when this has gone on for decades in Israel. Putin finally had to draw a line just as the US hoped he would, the US having rudely rebuffed the hand offered in friendship for over two decades. Where is John Kennedy when we need him?
I agree on all points.
Refreshing insight! BTW, this site is more relevant now than ever! Hang in and keep doing marvellous work documenting these works and days!
Nice to see Israel scorched with the truth for once. Israel’s in a tight diplomatic spot.
I’ve always wondered what accommodation Putin and Russia came to with the Kosher Nostra, the Israeli/Russian(/American) mob. There are a lot of former Russians in Israel, and I wonder what their reactions are as well.
All das mußte mal gesagt werden, ich kann das gut nachempfinden. Sehr mutig!
Hoffentlich sind die Folgen erträglich.
All that had to be said, I can empathize with it. Very brave!
Hopefully the consequences are bearable.
Try to find the answer, anywhere online for: How many times has Israel voted against UN resolutions opposing US proposals?
If what the author of the article states is verbatim accurate: that Foreign Minister Yair Lapid wrote: “It is impossible to remain indifferent in the face of the horrific images from the city of Bucha near Kyiv, from after the Russian army left”, it is merely an accusation. Many scenarios may have occurred after Russia withdrew forces.
The second sentence in the same Twitter post: “Intentionally harming a civilian population is a war crime and I strongly condemn it” says not a thing that directly refers to Russia having been the perpetrator harming a civilian population.
It is utter speculation on the part of all and sundry. Going out from this, the first premiss, that it is a reference to Russia, is false! Any conclusion derived therefrom, therefore, is false.
Of course, the Israeli Ambassador to Ukraine, Michael Brodsky, is going to concur with the Israeli Foreign Ministers Tweet; never mind whether it pertains to the facts on the ground as they actually happened!
To this cohort, the truth is beside the point. It is literally the laying of the foundation for the next forthcoming propaganda narrative of the kowtowing groupies of the West, pulled out of thin air.
Just as it is claimed, by some in the media, that Russia fell into the trap that the hegemon had set for it, so too, Sergey Ivanov, head of Russia’s department of diplomacy and consular service at the Foreign Ministry’s Diplomatic Academy, “(he) wrote a scathing critique of Israel on Wednesday, posted on the ministry’s Telegram page.” Only he is attempting to defend Russia’s integrity, by attacking the Western claque’s mendacities, with the truth.
“It holds nothing back, openly condemning Israel for a variety of sins, including its treatment of the Palestinians”; most definitely not a figment of one person’s speculations; based solely on premature false assumptions.
It is surprising that Israel would be so foolish as to imagine that Russia could see them as impartial on Ukraine.
Israel has been destabilizing Lebanon and supporting Kurdish radicals in Syria, opposing Russia’s intervention.
It is plain that they support Zelensky in Ukraine largely to weaken Russia in Syria, with a second front.
Like the US, they do not care what militants they support as long as they make a quagmire for the appointed enemy.
No one could be a worse “moderator” for “peace.” Probably no one in Russian government was fooled.
It boggles my mind that Israhell is allowed to cast a vote on human rights in the first place.
Bravo Mr. Ivanov for telling the truth. Hope Russia will finally be able to free itself from this poisonous snake in the Middle East.
Not forgetting how israel treats Palestinians…I don’t think israel is in ANY position to act as an intermediate.
Interview by Richard Medhurst, with Scott Ritter, 04/06/22, re: his banning from Twitter. Begins from the 17th min
hxxps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izeA9La1aNY
Thank you, Mr. Lauria, for this report, the substance of which I have not seen anywhere else. Mr. Ivanov’s catalogue of Israel’s ‘works and days’ (as Pierre Bayle would say, “is nothing but a history of crimes”) is nearly complete and true in every item and detail. It’s paradoxical: we are living in a world of overwhelming lies, of unbearable thickness; but at the same time, bitter truths that old time liberals do not like to contemplate are becoming ineluctably evident, and more-and-more difficult to be conveniently set aside.
I actually thought you made up the word: ineluctably but it shows up on a search. History of crimes also applies to US and most of our so-called ‘leaders.’ That’s why BOTH parties were so easily blackmailed by Epstein MOSSAD OP to serve our enemy we call an “ally.”
Superb article, Mr Lauria. Many, many thanks. The heartfelt comments above from Vincent Anderson are truly expressive of the invaluable effect that Consortium News has on all of us who seek the truth and justice.
It is way overdue – but that’s Russia for you -“Slow to saddle but rides like the wind” She needed time to really build up her strength. Well, it’s here now and the play is for keeps, so we had better all saddle up and hold on. The world is a – changin’ and it feels great.
Thanks so much Joe, for bringing us this report. Extremely important goings on here.
We see just how Israeli bullshit flies in Russia and it isn’t far.
“The worm has turned”, as they say.
I’ll say this one more time. This entire episode could have been handled much differently by the U.S.. Boy to know what communications between the US and the Israelis were before this thing was pushed into the dumpster fire is has become. I’m sure the Israelis were all in on starting this conflagration, it would be typical for them.
The Israelis have absolutely no place criticizing either the Ukrainians or the Russians for anything in this case. Proof again the Israelis revel in drawing attention to themselves, especially it seems, when they would benefit more by keeping quiet.
Hypocritical bastards they are! Speaking of an outfit that needs a good poke in the nose!
Dog give me strength.
Victoria Nudleman and warmongering PNAC hubby Robert Kagan work for our enemy/ally Israel installed by Obama calling himself the first ‘jewish’ president and creating ISIS for Israel as a proxy army he and Hillary ARMED, then Trump continued funding, arming and rescuing…. while of course pretending to fight them.
Anytime you clash with Israhell you know you’re on the correct side of things.
Wow. Just wow. Why don’t the Russians tell us clearly what they really think more often?
Putin, at least, does tell us what he thinks at occasional press conference and speeches.
Very detailed and analytical.
Eric
I’m glad you mentioned that. Notice when people lie and steal, they assume others do the same. I’ve been a Putin observer since he’s been in office and know that when he speaks, he doesn’t lie and when he says he’ll do something, he does it.
Can you imagine biden giving an open to all press around the world 2 hour press conference! Or any of the US MIC owned politicians
Wow! What a dynamite statement! We are definitely seeing a Russia with nothing to lose in its showdown with the West and its allies. It’s about time. Respect.
About time.
Very courageous stuff, Joe. A real mensch!
Can’t say how much you and CN have meant to my general psychic bearings over past few months. Having been recently diagnosed with a serious illness, I will leave whatever I can for your efforts.
Ivanov’s “no holds barred” description of Israel’s conduct and hypocrisy are utterly refreshing. I find the comments coming out of Moscow and Beijing these days remarkable in their candor. Truths usually ignored or white-washed are being spoken aloud. This a potent moment of reckoning and one full of possibility. Which way will things fall… ? Judging by the West’s relentless crackdown on dissent, and ever escalating efforts to censor independent reporting (and thinking), it is clear that the empire is teetering. Let’s give it a good shove my friends!
Thank you Joe and CN!
Finally we get some push back by a world power,Russia , for the atrocities rendered to the Palestinian people by Israel . Hypocrisy is beyond the pale .Kudos to Sergey Ivanov for as he states , an educational course would be well deserved on invasions and atrocities.
Enough already of the propaganda used as truthful information .It is really getting thick .
Thanks Joe for relating this information from Russia to Israel which was so well deserved .
Some home truths about Israeli’s conduct towards the Arab people. However, the tactics used Chechnya and elsewhere are very similar. I once gave a lesson to 14 year olds on WW1 propaganda. Kids often ask penetrating questions and I came out with a line which, afterwards, I thought was a good answer. (we think) Our propaganda tells the truth; other people’s tell lies.
Thank you, Joe, for this piece. These are very troubling, uncertain times.
About time a major power laid bare Israel’s holier than thou hypocrisy with regard to Palestine, Syria,Lebanon, Gaza, Iran etc, etc Israel is certainly not the pillar of peace, freedom and justice it pretends to be.
It is now so obvious to any intelligent person how insignificant humans are to the ruling class. If they could get rid the world of the masses and still make obscene profits, and have the world to themselves they would slaughter us all in a heartbeat. The western nations who consider themselves to be civilized, are the savage and ignorant hordes they accuse Russia of. I wonder how many of the Donetsk people had to die before the west took notice. Let me bore you with the facts. No media, including the Canadian press would have bothered to report such insignificant slaughter of Russian old age pensioners, women an children. They are insignificant.
Cheryle – perhaps you are not aware that Russia gave the Donetsk elderly, women & children, etc the option to leave BEFORE the invasion. Russia sent in buses and then went on to provide lodging & sustenance to the evacuees along with schooling for the children. I saw live videos of same.
Wow! Compare that acidic truth-telling to “Voldemort” Zelensky’s vile appearance at the Grammys, where he was essentially forced on a captive audience. Maybe John Legend should view that 2019 video of Zelensky where it’s crystal clear that Zelensky got the war he and his puppet-masters in Washington wanted. Then Mr. Legend can read the remarks by Mr. Ivanov. Not likely, but one can hope. I’m probably hopelessly waiting for some big name celebrity or politician to sacrifice their career, become principled, and denounce the insane warmongering going on in the US.