Russia’s Ambassador to Israel Anatoly Viktorov reportedly expressed President Vladimir Putin’s displeasure at Yair Lapid becoming Israel’s prime minister due to his sharp statements on the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
According to a report on Channel 12 news, Viktorov has said in closed-door meetings that Lapid becoming prime minister could “cause problems” in the Russian-Israeli relationship.
Moreover, Viktorov said that Lapid’s former statements against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has left a “deep wound” in the Kremlin.
Viktorov’s alleged statements provoked angry reactions in the Israeli media, forcing the Russian embassy in Tel Aviv to rush to deny the report.
However, the embassy’s wording of the denial came to affirm the report’s context.
“We hope that Israel will choose an impartial, balanced and considered approach to the war in Ukraine, in line with the nature of friendship and deep-rooted Russian-Israeli relations that we have been strengthening for 30 years,” said the embassy.
The Channel 12 report points to a series of statements Lapid made as foreign minister that were very critical of Russia’s invasion, while then-prime minister Naftali Bennett adopted a more diplomatic approach. Lapid accused Moscow of war crimes and Russian forces of “killing innocent civilians.”
Pressure from the Biden administration has forced the Israeli government to take positions more supportive of Ukraine.
Nevertheless, Israel tries to avoid direct and explicit condemnation of Russia or the West for supplying Ukraine with weapons.
Israel has sought to maintain a delicate balance in the Ukrainian crisis between its historical ally (US) and Russia, which is heavily stationed in neighboring Syria.
As for the Israeli security establishment, it was most careful not to anger Putin, because of the military coordination mechanism with Russia in Syria which serves Israeli interests and security.
