Israeli Diaspora Minister Nahman Shai said that "the time has come to provide Ukraine with military assistance, as the United States and NATO countries do." According to him, after the message that Russia is buying ballistic missiles from Iran, "there was no doubt which side Israel should take in this bloody conflict."
Nachman Shai became the first member of the Israeli government to publicly declare support for Ukraine and the need to help it with weapons. Zahava Galion also demanded to supply Ukraine with anti-missile defense systems. She leads a party that is part of the ruling coalition but does not hold government seats.
Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid has repeatedly condemned Russia for strikes on Ukrainian civilian targets, but the Israeli authorities still reject all Ukraine's requests for military assistance.
Earlier, The Insider's source in Israeli diplomatic circles noted that the authorities are unlikely to supply weapons to Ukraine.
“Israel has sensitive interests in which Russia can take a position that is dangerous for Israel and even damage national security,” the source said. “Israel understands this, so the supply of weapons or military technology to Ukraine is unlikely. Israel and Russia have a channel of communication on Syrian issues. If such deliveries are a red line for Russia, Israel will not transfer weapons or technology to Ukraine. This is unlikely. As for Russia, there are no arms or military technology deliveries after 2014, there is not a single contract in force and there will not be in the current conditions.”