Israel is concerned about the fate of 70,000 Jews living in Ukraine as the threat of a Russian invasion increases.
Feeling caught between two powers, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett offered to mediate the confrontation between Russia and Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin refused the offer.
“The United States of course, is our most important ally,” Professor Efraim Inbar, director of the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy And Security said. “We’ll always be on the side of the Americans, but we need to realize that we have good relations with Russia and we need the Russians in order to facilitate our military activities in Syria against the Iranian targets.”
READ: Ukraine’s Christians pray and prepare for Russian invasion
The Ukrainian crisis presents the first major test for the United States after the military pullout from Afghanistan. Under a 1994 treaty, Ukraine voluntarily gave up its nuclear arsenal and the U.S. and Britain agreed to defend Ukraine from any invasion. The treaty was signed by then-President Bill Clinton, Britain, Russia and Ukraine and ratified by the U.S. Senate. The U.S. is bound by the treaty to act of Russia invades but many say the Biden administration is likely to ignore the treaty.
“Why is it important? It’s important because it’s a test of Biden,” said Joel Rosenberg, a Mideast expert and author. “What’s happening is because of the failure of Biden to be and look strong in Afghanistan. The fact that he surrendered to the terrorist Taliban regime in Afghanistan means that every other enemy in the world is saying, well, if Biden can’t handle the Taliban, what can we do? What could we get?’”
Inbar said enemies such as China are closely watching closely. “Of course, if they are not going to show a strong position in Europe, the Chinese will believe what they used to say, that America is a paper tiger,” he said.
Another country that sees potential gains is Iran, currently involved in nuclear talks in Vienna.
“If they see weakness, if they see that they are not willing to confront aggression, then they will learn that they can ignore American wishes in the talks about a new nuclear agreement,” Inbar said. “ And they will not be forthcoming, expecting the Americans will do nothing. We should all pray that God will give wisdom to the American leadership to end this crisis in a positive way that will strengthen the United States rather than losing face.”
The vast majority of Ukraine’s Jewish community was murdered during World War II.
–Alan Goforth | Metro Voice