Vitaly Portnikov / The Times of Israel
In response to the warning from the Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha about the possible arrival of another vessel carrying stolen Ukrainian grain to the port of Haifa, his Israeli counterpart Gideon Sa’ar recommended providing evidence instead of making accusations on social media.
At first glance, this response reflects the position of an experienced politician explaining to a less experienced colleague how to act in a delicate situation.
If it weren’t for the precedent of the previous vessel carrying stolen grain that had already appeared in Haifa. This vessel not only entered Israeli waters but also managed to leave the port without consequences. The Israeli Foreign Minister just “didn’t have time” to react to the evidence provided by his Ukrainian counterpart. According to high-ranking diplomatic sources in Kyiv, the documents gathered by Ukraine didn’t even reach the table of the Israeli State Attorney but instead remained in the archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Now, Ukraine intends to submit evidence directly to the Israeli prosecution. Therefore, it is possible that Gideon Sa’ar won’t see them at all.
When the Israeli Foreign Minister responds to a cry of “Stop the thief!” from a country he calls a friend, by first demanding evidence, it resembles a scene on the Jerusalem tram. Someone next to you shouts that their wallet has been stolen, and instead of offering help or calling the police, you advise the victim first to prove that the wallet—and its contents—actually belonged to them. Such a reaction is plausible only when you know both the victim and the thief. Or at least if you know the thief—and fear them.
I have no reason to accuse Gideon Sa’ar of bias against Ukraine. I was present at his meeting with representatives of the Ukrainian Jewish community in Kyiv and heard him express support for Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression. He has also repeatedly publicly condemned this aggression, including in his speeches at the UN Security Council.
But when it comes to specific interests, such as the sale of stolen goods, other considerations often prevail. Corruption? Fear of Russia? Fear of China, whose companies operate the new port terminal in Haifa?
The past years have shown that such caution, this desire not to step on the bear’s paw, leads nowhere. The Kremlin does not treat Israel as a country whose interests should be respected. It continues to support Israel’s adversaries. These adversaries are shared by both Israel and Ukraine. Behind Iran lies the support of Russia and China. Iran supports Russia in the war against Ukraine, while Russia helps Iran withstand confrontation with the United States and Israel. On the same day that Sybiha appealed to Sa’ar, Vladimir Putin was in St. Petersburg embracing Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
That is why one might expect the Israeli Foreign Minister to seek ways to solve the problem of stolen grain together with Ukraine, rather than lecturing his colleague as if he were a careless student. Any other approach indicates that the fear of Russia and the hope for understanding, where there is none, still remain defining factors in Israeli diplomacy.
In the cover image: Bulk carrier ABINSK. Photo: Marine Traffic
