Israeli policy regarding Ukraine has not changed and while Jerusalem stands with the embattled European country and with NATO, it has not offered Kyiv any weapons, Defense Minister Benny Gantz told European Union ambassadors during a briefing on Wednesday.
“Our policy vis-à-vis Ukraine will not change—we will continue to support and stand with the West, we will not provide weapon systems,” Gantz said.
“We have asked the Ukrainians to share information regarding their needs, and offered to assist in developing a life-saving early-warning system,” he added, likely referring to a version of the IDF Home Front Command’s area-specific Color Red system.
“Israel supports and stands with Ukraine, NATO and the West; this is something we have said in the past and repeat today. Israel has a policy of supporting Ukraine via humanitarian aid and the delivery of life-saving defensive equipment,” said Gantz.
“I plan to review and approve an additional package, as we have delivered in the past. This being said, I would like to emphasize that Israel will not deliver weapon systems to Ukraine due to a variety of operational considerations. We will continue to support Ukraine within our limitations, as we have done in the past,” the defense minister stated.
Israel is monitoring Tehran’s involvement in the war in Ukraine, said Gantz. “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,” he stated.
“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,” Gantz said.