Political expert Mykola Beleskov analyzed the likelihood that the Prime Minister of Israel can become a kind of mediator between Vladimir Zelensky and Vladimir Putin in the settlement of the war in the Donbass.

The visit of Benjamin Netanyahu has occurred against a number of contradictions that have arisen in recent years in relations between the two countries, writes “Commander in chief”.

Thus, the official Kiev wary looks at the Israeli measures to resolve the conflict with Palestine and Syria, which are contrary to provisions of international law. It is well recorded vote in the UN Security Council in December 2016 on the establishment of Israeli settlements on the West Bank of the Jordan river.

In these circumstances it is not surprising that it started to even go about connecting tel Aviv to the settlement of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict – primarily in the Donbass. Through active conversations of the new government on the need as soon as possible to terminate the conflict and the emergence of implementation problems appropriate rhetoric, this idea may not be so fantastic.

On the other hand, Benjamin Netanyahu is known for his active contacts with Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Can Benjamin Netanyahu be the one to bring peace, at least for Donbass?

Moscow-tel Aviv- zigzags interaction

The Russian Federation has decided to build its relations with countries in the Middle East after the collapse of the Soviet Union based on the principle that Moscow has no permanent enemies or friends in the region, and only the relevant interests. Moreover, the Kremlin is trying to maintain normal relations with all countries in the region, despite the gap between them. Today it has allowed Russia to engage with antagonists such as Iran or Saudi Arabia, Israel and Iran. At least, it allows Moscow to maintain the image of a big and influential country. However, this demands from the Russian side and some flexibility.

In relations with Israel that led to the formation of certain red lines that each side does not want to go. Or does it very carefully. So tel Aviv stopped deliveries to Georgia of reconnaissance drones, which were not very pleasant surprise for the Russians in 2008, and even helped Russia to develop its own armed drones. Moscow has been careful in the emergence of modern air defense systems and medium-range missiles to such countries as Syria or Iran – at least until 2015.

Against the backdrop of civil war in Syria, and especially after the Russian intervention in late September 2015 Israel has significantly intensified in the Russian direction. For tel Aviv, it was important to have the opportunity to continue to strike at Iranian facilities in Syria, while avoiding collisions with the Russian aircraft. Also, the administration of Benjamin Netanyahu hopes that Russia will at least partially limit Iran’s attempts to gain a foothold in Syria militarily, especially near the Israeli-occupied Syrian Golanskih heights.

It is therefore not surprising that from September 2015 to February 2019 Benjamin Netanyahu and Vladimir Putin held ten meetings.

As a consequence, we can talk about what’s really between Benjamin Netanyahu and Vladimir Putin formed a special relationship. Partly they are based on trust and respect to each other, and partly a willingness to consider each other’s interests and are important not to cross red lines. Tel Aviv in the framework of cooperation with Moscow, first of all, your tasks are dictated by the logic of the middle East regional system of international relations, subordinating to these calculations, the behavior of foreign issues.

So the Israeli delegation was not present during the voting of the UN General Assembly in late March 2014 to support Ukraine’s territorial integrity. This caused opposition from Washington. Also Israel has not joined anti-Russian sanctions the EU and the USA. While Israel in 2017, supported a UN General Assembly resolution on human rights in the occupied Crimea as well as a resolution 2018 the militarization of Crimea by Russia.

Therefore, we can say that Israel is trying to balance its position on the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, seeing all events through the prism of their interests.

Logical attempts to attract Ukraine into conflict with Russia players that are directly linked to security in the Euro-Atlantic region. For tel Aviv these questions are very far – the middle East lives with the problem of the spread of Iranian influence, the ongoing civil war in Syria, the General instability in the background of the weakness of a significant number of States in the region. The Russian-Ukrainian conflict is very far for States in the region, including to tel Aviv. It is not surprising that he and Benjamin Netanyahu during a conversation with journalists skeptical about the chances of bringing Israel as a proxy to the confrontation between Ukraine-Russia.

To be Israelis in defence of their native land

In his inaugural speech Vladimir Zelensky said including that Ukrainians should be Israelis in defence of their native land. Ukraine 2014 indeed many times been compared to Israel – so much that it become boring and has become largely a truism. However, Israel was almost the only country in the world, since 1945 inter-state wars of high intensity wins over opponents that had overwhelming human and material resources. Ukraine in its military construction in the next 10 years must also proceed from the necessity to prepare for a major war with Russia, with less than the Russians resources.

In General to be like Israel in the defense of his native land, so first convince the enemy that you will not be able to destroy the military, and then sit down at the negotiating table on favourable conditions for the country. This is what the Israelites did in the conflicts of 1948-49, 1956, 1967 and 1973.

As the current Ukrainian government must be honest to the people, the world today is possible only on conditions of the Russian Federation, means a conscious limitation of sovereignty. Peace in Ukraine is possible only after five years of considerable effort that radically strengthen the negotiating position of the country and will change in the Kremlin’s perception of the status quo in the Donbass as to be generally acceptable to unacceptable. That’s what it means to be Israelis in defence of their native land. This is what can we learn from the Israeli experience.

Recall that one of Netanyahu’s remark about “capital of Jerusalem” drew Zelensky and Ukraine international conflict.

Earlier it was reported that Israel can connect to the conflict in the Donbass.