In a thought-provoking address at the Foreign Strategy conference titled ‘UK and Global Security: Scenario after the war between Russia and Ukraine,’ Professor Taras Kuzio, a political scientist from the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, highlighted a rarely discussed electoral event that could carry profound global implications – the upcoming elections in Israel.
Kuzio drew attention to Israel’s current Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, asserting that his once close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin have contributed to a decline in popularity.
According to Kuzio, this is partly due to perceived failures in handling the Hamas attack, lack of intelligence, and a refusal to extend military assistance to Ukraine.
“You’ll find billboards of him hugging Putin as his buddy if you surf the internet,” Kuzio said, underscoring the apparent association between Netanyahu and the Russian leadership.
The professor also pointed out the paradox of Ukraine having a Jewish President, Volodymyr Zelensky, with a family history scarred by the Holocaust, while Netanyahu’s alleged alignment with Putin remains a barrier to Israeli support.
Kuzio argued that a change in Israel’s political leadership, especially if Netanyahu were to be replaced, could significantly impact the global dynamics of the conflict.
He said: “If Benjamin Netanyahu was to go, and Israel was to start supporting or at least cooperating with Ukraine militarily, this could change a lot of the dynamics on a global level.”
The next Israeli elections are scheduled for 2026. Despite Israel’s diplomatic support for Ukraine, it has refrained from providing direct military aid against the Russian invasion.
Geopolitical intricacies have led Israel to coordinate its actions in Syria with Moscow, given Russia’s ties to Damascus.
President Zelensky has expressed dissatisfaction with Israel’s stance in the past, saying: “Israel has given us nothing. Nothing. Zero,” in a September 2022 interview.
Despite Israel’s claims of providing support in the form of helmets, body armour, medical aid, and financial assistance, the absence of tangible military aid has been a point of contention.
Moreover, accusations have been made against Israel for mistreating Ukrainian citizens within its borders, leading to the deportation of over 2,000 Ukrainians in 2023, as reported by the Ukrainian embassy.
