Jerusalem, undefined:
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stepped up his criticism of Israel’s refusal to punish Russia during a speech by the Jewish leader before the Hebrew University of Jerusalem on Thursday.
Zelensky’s speech, four months after Russia’s war on Ukraine, comes amid a new political crisis in Israel that will likely see Naftali Bennett replaced as prime minister within days by Foreign Minister Yair Lapid.
Bennett has refrained from criticizing the Russian invasion, emphasizing Israel’s close ties to Moscow and Kiev, while his administration has not imposed sanctions on the government of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Days after the February 24 invasion, Lapid condemned Russia’s actions as a “violation of the world order.”
Israeli commentators have said their contrasting rhetoric was coordinated to ensure Israeli neutrality.
Zelenksy, who has relatives in Israel and has visited the country several times, told Hebrew University in a video address that he has struggled to understand the Jewish state’s soft approach to Russia.
“How can you not help the victims of such aggression,” said Zelenksy, who complained about Israel’s refusal to provide military aid to Ukraine.
“I don’t know how to answer the questions I always get about how Israel has helped and what else Israel can do.
“I am grateful to the people of Israel. I am grateful for the sincere and emotional support to the people of Ukraine… but we would also like to receive support from your government,” he added.
The Israeli government and major rescue organizations have sent humanitarian and medical aid to Ukraine, but arms deliveries have been kept off the table.
Zelensky also recalled the historic ties between Ukraine and Israel, a message he emphasized in a March address to Israeli lawmakers.
In Thursday’s speech, Zelensky noted that the childhood home in Kiev of former Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir was “five minutes” from his presidential office.
“Please remember how much we are connected, how close our ties are, what the level of understanding between us should be,” he said.
“Why we have this miscommunication, misunderstanding with government representatives, I don’t know.”
Israel has so far taken a cautious diplomatic line in the Ukraine conflict, in part to maintain Russian cooperation in Syria, where Israel regularly carries out airstrikes with tacit acceptance from Moscow, which has troops in the country.
(This story was not edited by DailyExpertNews staff and was generated automatically from a syndicated feed.)