William Molinié, edited by Romain Rouillard
modified to
08:15, February 03, 2023
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is visiting France until Saturday and was received by Emmanuel Macron Thursday evening during a dinner at the Élysée. The French president wants to convince Israel to get more involved alongside the Ukrainians in the face of the Russian invasion.
Between Emmanuel Macron and Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister visiting Paris until Saturday, there was naturally a question of the Israeli-Palestinian violence which recently set Jerusalem ablaze. But the subject of the war in Ukraine did not take long to burst into the heart of the discussions. During a dinner at the Élysée, the French president tried to convince the Israeli leader to get more involved in supporting the Ukrainians.
For nearly a year, Israel has held back with four irons when it comes to delivering arms to kyiv and refuses to choose its side clearly. A reluctance that can be explained in several ways. The Russian minority, very influential in Israel, prevents Tel Aviv from adopting a fiercely anti-Kremlin posture.
Neutrality on the verge of tipping over
Israel also fears the threats that would weigh on the Jews of Russia in the event of a hostile engagement in Moscow and wishes to preserve its access to Syrian skies. Tel Aviv was able to conduct military air operations without Russia activating its anti-aircraft systems.
However, this apparent neutrality is about to topple. Great rival of Israel, Iran is getting more and more involved alongside the Russians to the point of supplying Moscow with kamikaze drones. Devices that could very well come to strike the Holy Land. Not to mention the question of the Iranian nuclear program which represents an existential subject for Israel. The conflict between Tel Aviv and the great Shiite power of the Middle East could therefore be played out by proxy on Ukrainian soil.
In the diplomatic balance, Benjamin Netanyahu hopes that Emmanuel Macron will register the Revolutionary Guards on the list of terrorist organizations. A decision that the French president does not really want to make. At least for now.