Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky today called on Israel to “make a choice” by effectively backing Ukraine over Russia during a video conference before members of the Knesset, the Israeli parliament.
“Israel will have to live with the choices it makes as to whether it will help protect Ukraine from Russian invasion,” he said. “Ukraine made its choice 80 years ago and we have the Righteous who hid Jews, it’s time for Israel to make its choice … indifference kills, calculations kill,” Zelensky said, betting on his Jewish roots. in his speech in Ukrainian which was translated into Hebrew for the Israeli deputies.
Comparing the Russian attack to the “final solution” – Nazi Germany’s plan to exterminate the Jews – Zelensky questioned Israel’s reluctance to sell the Iron Dome missile system to Ukraine.
“Everyone knows that your missile defense systems are the best… and that you can certainly help our people, save the lives of Ukrainians, Ukrainian Jews,” he said.
“We can ask why we can not take weapons from you, why Israel has not imposed strong sanctions on Russia or put pressure on Russian companies. In any case, the choice is yours, brothers and sisters, and then you have to live. with your answer “.
“It is possible to mediate between countries, but not between good and evil,” he added, as the Jewish state took a cautious stance after the Russian invasion of Ukraine on Thursday (February 24th), citing its privileged ties with the two countries.
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has sought to mediate between Ukraine and Russia by traveling to Moscow to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin shortly after the invasion and stepping up phone conversations with Zelensky.
“We wonder why the state of Israel does not give us weapons,” Zelensky asked.
According to Israeli media, Bennett has repeatedly rejected Kiev’s requests for military assistance.
In the speech, which was also broadcast on a giant screen in a large square in the Israeli metropolis of Tel Aviv, the Ukrainian president described the Russian invasion of Ukraine as a tragedy for “Jews and the whole world.”
Russia denies targeting civilians in what it calls a “special military operation” in Ukraine.
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