Israel abstains on UN vote against Russia over Ukraine war
The Kremlin and the White House are both waiting to see if Israeli Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu will shift Israel’s policy on the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Israel was the only Western country to abstain Nov. 14 in a United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) vote against Russia. Ninety-four countries voted in favor of the nonbinding resolution supporting a mechanism for Russia to pay reparations for invading Ukraine, 14 countries voted against and 73 abstained. Apart from Israel, among the countries abstaining were India, Jordan, Yemen, Lebanon and Iraq.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry declined to comment on the vote. At the first UN vote following the Russian invasion of Ukraine Feb. 24, Israel abstained, but on other votes on Ukraine Israel voted together with the United States and European countries in support of Ukraine. Outgoing Prime Minister Yair Lapid has noted on several occasions that Israel must be "on the right side of history," condemning the Russian invasion. Still, both Lapid and Defense Minister Benny Gantz had reiterated several times the Israeli position of assisting Kyiv with defense equipment only, not with Iron Dome anti-missile batteries or weapons.
