Netanyahu and Biden's Strained Relations: Exploring Ukraine, Russia, and Arab Perceptions
Netanyahu and Biden's Strained Relations: Exploring Ukraine, Russia, and Arab Perceptions
In an interview with "The Times of Israel," Ukraine's ambassador to Tel Aviv, Yevhen Kornichuk, used sarcasm when discussing Netanyahu’s polices. Kornichuk insinuated that Netanyahu must satisfy the Ukrainian government by visiting Kyiv to be invited to the White House. It is worth noting that Ukraine, mainly since Netanyahu assumed power a year ago, has expressed profound dissatisfaction with Israel's position on the ongoing war. In fact, in a recent statement, the Ukrainian ambassador strongly called for "close cooperation with Russia" from Netanyahu and his government.
The Ukrainian ambassador questioned the reasons presented by Netanyahu's government for not providing military aid to Ukraine in this war. These reasons include the unique relations between Israel and Russia regarding the Syrian issue, the presence of the Jewish community in Russia, and concerns about potential weapon transfers to Iran. Kornichuk dismissed these justifications as "absurd excuses" and highlighted a series of events since the beginning of 2023 that suggest close cooperation between Israel and Russia. These events include a secretive agreement to construct a Russian consulate in Jerusalem and discontinuing humanitarian aid to Ukraine.
The ambassador's statements can be seen as a critique of the close relations between Israel and Russia, particularly between Netanyahu and Putin. However, it is crucial to recognise that Biden's decision not to invite Netanyahu is not directly related to Israel's neutrality regarding the Ukraine war or its strategic ties with Moscow. Rather, it is likely due to the strained relationship between the American Democrats and right-wing Israelis, particularly given the current right-wing Israeli government. The occasional tensions and dissatisfaction between Netanyahu and Biden do not accurately represent the deeper and more significant relationship between the United States and Israel.
Despite the criticisms, Netanyahu may visit Ukraine and Moscow in the future. Conversely, the ambassador of Israel in Ukraine praised two Ukrainian pro-Germany commanders during World War II who fought against the Red Army, leading to the summoning of the charge d'affaires of the Israeli embassy in Moscow. However, these praises are unlikely to satisfy the Zelensky government, which seeks Israeli defence systems. Nevertheless, these actions are unlikely to significantly harm the depth of relations between Moscow and Tel Aviv.
Interestingly, while Ukraine admonishes Netanyahu and sarcastically suggests that the path to the White House goes through Kyiv, some Arab countries perceive Israel as a gateway to strengthening relations with power centres in America and the West. This is one of the reasons why the normalisation of relations with Israel is deemed necessary. Arab nations believe that through these relations, they can benefit from Israel's support and influence in America and Europe, thereby reducing human rights pressures emanating from the White House.
This channel of influence has even facilitated Mohammed bin Salman's direct involvement in addressing the crisis surrounding Jamal Khashoggi's tragic murder in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, with Netanyahu playing a key role in American politics.
However, Russia's aggression against Ukraine has placed Bin Salman in a different and advantageous position, making him one of the primary beneficiaries of the Ukrainian conflict. Consequently, Biden has shifted his focus towards strengthening ties with the oil-rich kingdom instead of reevaluating relations with Saudi leadership. As a result, Bin Salman finds himself in a favourable position where the official diplomatic relationship with Israel has become instrumental in gaining concessions from the Biden administration. It is crucial to acknowledge that Biden will need to address this issue before the 2024 presidential bid, making it a significant foreign policy achievement. Therefore, despite recent stances taken by Riyadh, the potential for future normalisation between Israel and Saudi Arabia remains.
