What Can Israel Provide to Ukraine: Knesset Official

Israel can do more to provide humanitarian support to Ukraine and to offer air attack warning systems, but the country does not have the capabilities and sufficient stockpiles of weapons to supply Kyiv without jeopardizing its own security. This opinion was expressed by Yuli Edelstein, the chairman of the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, in an interview with RTVI.

“People understand that Israel has certain limitations. At the same time, Israel is doing a lot in the field of humanitarian aid, and I believe that recently the country is starting to do more in everything that relates to warning systems and things that help civilians in the event of an air attack or any kind of military assault. I do not hide my position: we can do more,” he said.

Edelstein expressed his pleasure at hearing “a message or leak from the Prime Minister's Office” indicating that the government is “seriously thinking about how to develop a new policy” regarding the conflict. “In my opinion, this would be the right direction. Moreover, let’s not forget that Russia’s main friend and partner at the moment is Iran,” he added.

At the same time, the politician noted that when discussing support for Ukraine, one should not forget about Israel's own interests. “As the chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, I have not heard that we have a huge amount of weapons that we can share so easily, given the complicated situation we are in with Hamas in the south and Hezbollah in the north. Next will be Iran and all that. Therefore, there are purely practical aspects,” Edelstein emphasized.

However, he reminded that “it is no secret that most of the weapons in Israeli stockpiles were supplied to Ukraine by the Americans.” According to him, this has not provoked negative reactions or questions from Israeli politicians, who “understand the necessity of such supplies.”