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Ukraine crisis sees Israel lose and Iran win

March 8, 2014 at 1:19 pm

Israel has acknowledged that its strategic interests will be harmed if an end is not put to the escalating crisis in Ukraine. It has suggested that Iran will be the greatest winner in this case.


Although the Israeli authorities are remaining silent and have not voiced their position on what has been going on in Ukraine, Minister of Intelligence and International Relations Yuval Steinitz warned during an interview on Israel Radio on Tuesday morning that if the crisis between Russia and the West is not contained, then Russian will withdraw from the efforts made by the US and the West, and will be incited by Israel in an attempt to thwart the Iranian nuclear programme.

Steinitz, who is accompanying Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, on his current visit to Washington, added: “What is happening is dangerous and there is a need to contain the crisis to ensure the continuation of Russian support to strip Iran of its nuclear capabilities. If the crisis continues, Iran’s position in the current negotiations in Geneva to reach a final agreement on Tehran’s nuclear programme will be strengthened, and it will lead to the radicalisation of the Iranian leaders’ positions.”

Israel Radio quoted Israeli officials as saying that any action taken by the West to impose sanctions on Russia will push President Putin to strengthen his ties with Tehran in defiance and provide an environment that reduces international pressure on Iran aimed at thwarting its nuclear ambitions.

The officials pointed out that a so-called “alliance of the besieged” may be formed between Tehran and Moscow, which would create an international environment supportive of the Iranian nuclear project, and will reduce the chances of Israel and the West being successful in their efforts to impose deterrent penalties on the Iranians. They also noted that the strategic risks to Israel are escalated by the fact that the Ukrainian crisis is contributing to reducing Washington’s position as the most powerful force in the world, which may affect Israel’s interests. Many countries, they claimed, volunteer to provide services to Israel on the grounds that it has influence on Washington’s policies. Israel’s room to manoeuvre has become limited as the west contemplates punitive measures against Russia, which would restrict Tel Aviv’s options to develop stronger links with Moscow.

Last Sunday, Israeli Army Radio revealed that the government ignored a request from the Chief Rabbi of Ukraine for Israel to intervene in order to protect Ukrainian Jews who are being subject to ‘anti-Semitic’ attacks. The radio noted that the rabbi went to Netanyahu and Defence Minister Moshe Ya’alon but both chose to ignore the request and failed to respond. The radio quoted sources in Netanyahu’s office who said that Ukraine’s Chief Rabbi should convince Jews to migrate to Israel instead of calling for a measure that may have an adverse effect on Israel’s vital interests.

Translated from Arabi21, 3 March, 2014

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