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TO ADVERTISE CALL 020 3906 8488 Gantz insists that Israel stands with Ukraine
BY DAVID SAFFER
Israel is sending Ukraine fresh humanitarian aid but will not supply arms to Kyiv as the war intensifies with Russia.
Defence Minister Benny Gantz confirmed Israel’s stance yesterday as President Vladimir Putin declared martial law in four Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine.
Russian attacks include ‘kamikaze’ drones striking Ukrainian infrastructure. Officials have called on Israel for missile defence systems. An aid package includes air defence alerts.
Gantz addressed EU member-state Ambassadors in Israel yesterday.
He told emissaries: “Israel supports and stands with Ukraine, NATO and the West. Israel has a policy of supporting Ukraine via humanitarian aid and the delivery of life-saving defensive equipment. I plan to review and approve an additional package, as we have delivered in the past.”
Gantz explained that Israel would not deliver weapon systems to Ukraine due to “operational considerations” but offered ongoing support to Ukraine. He noted: “We have sent a request to the Ukrainians to share information about their needs for air defence alerts. Once we gain this information, we will be able to assist in the development of a life-saving civilian early-warning system.”
Gantz’s clarification followed a tweet by Minister for Diaspora Affairs Nachman Shai noting that the time had come for Ukraine to receive military aid from Israel, the US and NATO.
Opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu, in a rare solidarity move, backed Gantz’s “prudent policy”.
But he warned on MSNBC: “There’s always a possibility, and this happened time and again, that weapons that we supplied in one battlefield, end up in Iranian hands used against us.”
Israel is under pressure to change its arms position but Prime Minister Yair Lapid’s government is not expected to shift on the policy. However, this position may change depending on forthcoming elections. Israelis go to the polls on November 1st. Netanyahu is determined to return to power and oust Lapid. Should Likud’s leader prevail he will extend his record run as Israel’s prime minister.
Regarding Iran, Gantz told ambassadors: “We are following Iran's involvement in the war in Ukraine.
“We see that Iran provides UAVs and in the near future may also provide additional advanced systems. The Iranians lie methodically about selling this equipment. This kind of (Iranian) involvement also takes place in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, and additional places and this continues.
“Of course, Iran also lies about the nuclear program. They continue their activities in terms of enrichment, development, and building protected areas for their nuclear capacities. We must increase international cooperation, build an intelligence coalition and create a credible military threat.
“At the same time, Israel will continue developing and maintaining its capabilities.”
As for terror issues in Judea and Samaria, particularly Nablus, Gantz noted: “We cannot allow this to continue. If it will not stop, I will increase our offensive activities in the area, as needed.”
Lapid has condemned Russian attacks in Kyiv and other cities across Ukraine.
It is believed Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba will issue another request to Israel for air defence systems in the coming days and a proposal to formally cut diplomatic ties with Iran.
Earlier this week Iran deployed Iranian-built drones to occupied Crimea.
Putin yesterday announced Prime
Defence Minister Gantz briefs EU Ambassadors
PHOTO: ARIEL HERMONI (MOD)
Minister Mikhail Mishustin will work with Russia's regions to boost Moscow's war effort in a televised statement to his Security Council.
The Council’s deputy chairman and former President Dmitry Medvedev said that Israel supplying weapons would be a “reckless move” destroying relations.
From the Editor’s Desk
BY YOSSI SAUNDERS
WESTMINSTER CHAOS
So another Prime Minister bites the dust, the shortest ever premiership in UK history coming to a close after a mere 44 days. Five PMs in six years. The UK seems keen to give the Israeli government a run for their money when it comes to political chaos! The BBC described this as ‘an unprecedented crisis in British Politics.’
Boris might even come back. That would give us headlines for many weeks, but at least he has a mandate for power. Whoever takes the hot seat, or poisoned chalice as it’s now become, for sure will have a tough old job on their hands. First task, restore some much needed confidence.
With bills skyrocketing and no end seemingly in sight any time soon, the British people are crying out for a prime minister with strong leadership to bring back the much needed stability and trust (not Truss) to the nation that we have sorely lacked recently.
We all want more money in our pockets as the cost of living crises deepens alarmingly. All the talk about how installing green energy will make things more efficient and cheaper has been badly exposed as a ruthless tax, dressed up as ‘saving the planet.’
All involved should hang their heads in shame that we have allowed the situation to get so bad that little old ladies in front of me in shops are debating if they should buy another pint of milk or put the heating on.
On the global stage, Putin’s nukes continue to line up around Russian borders. Many analysts have said that the mess around Boris and Partygate allowed Putin to invade Ukraine in the first place, and recent political events wouldn’t have scared him into thinking that the UK are a serious threat to be worried about. Keir Starmer today demanded an election, saying that the ‘soap opera at the top of the Tory party was doing huge damage to the UK.’
Who would have thought a few years ago when Corbyn was wiped out that Labour could be so close to power once more?
CORONATION
The Coronation of King Charles III has been announced for a Shabbat. What a shame that British Jewry are being excluded from watching it live, or lining up on the streets for this momentous occasion. Charles has usually been very accommodating to Jews, so it’s a shame on this occasion that the Palace have scored an own goal.
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