Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz said in a telephone conversation with his Ukrainian counterpart Alexei Reznikov that his country would not supply weapons to Kyiv. He announced this on Twitter.
The Minister expressed condolences to Ukraine in connection with the loss of life and the humanitarian crisis as a result of the war. Gantz noted that Israel is on the side of Ukraine and will continue to support the country and its people by sending humanitarian aid and civil warning systems. However, according to him, there are "restrictions" due to which Israel will not be able to supply weapons systems to Ukraine.
At the same time, Reznikov himself did not comment on the conversation with his Israeli counterpart at the time of writing the news. The last message on his Twitter account is about the upcoming conversation with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin: "We will discuss another act of Russian nuclear blackmail and the response of the Free World."
In October, Israeli Diaspora Minister Nachman Shai said that "the time has come to provide Ukraine with military assistance, as the United States and NATO countries do." He called for arms deliveries after reports that Russia was buying ballistic missiles from Iran. According to the minister, there was no doubt which side Israel should take "in this bloody conflict." On October 18, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba submitted a proposal to Zelensky for consideration to sever diplomatic relations with Iran, “taking into account the numerous destruction caused by Iranian drones to the civilian infrastructure of Ukraine, the death and suffering caused to the people.”
The Insider's source in Israeli diplomatic circles previously noted that the authorities of this country are unlikely to supply weapons to Ukraine:
“Israel has sensitive interests in which Russia can take a dangerous position for Israel and even damage national security. 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.”
