The world is convening at the United Nations and condemning Putin – threatening his wellbeing * But Israel is disputed on the appropriate manner of treating this situation – Lapid is sticking to a Western-Liberal line and Netanyahu is presenting a more complex and balanced position
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This symbolism repeats itself every year. In the most important week for the United Nations, thousands of participants in the General Assembly cannot take a walk to read the biblical words engraved in English opposite the glass building. For security reasons access is blocked to the site displaying the words from Isaiah, "They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more."
The UN is missing its opportunity to prevent wars, which is nothing new. These days Hezbollah is torturing UNIFIL soldiers, who should be preventing the organization from hoarding ammunition in southern Lebanon. And so, the ever-relevant words remain engraved, but have no relevance on the ground.
At this time, as Jews are praying for the future of the nations, the leaders of those countries gather in the unofficial capital of the world to participate in the event. The first row is filled with officials wearing colorful uniforms of entourages from all over the world. Rows of leaders are honking non-stop in order to find their way through the already busy streets. Here US Secretary of State Antony Blinken exits his black car. Passersby that watch the line of cars do not recognize him. Just a street down, dozens of exiled Iranians protest opposite the hotel of the Iranian president. "Ebrahim Raisi is a murderer," they shout.
What should have come out of this modern Towel of Babel is a message of peace. But, instead, the same failure that has characterized the UN since its inception remained as clear as ever, because the 77th General Assembly focused this year mainly on the additional war that the organization failed to prevent – the one launched by Russian President Vladimir Putin in Ukraine on Feb. 24.
Putin did not attend the General Assembly. Had he done so, there would have obviously been major demonstrations against him. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also did not attend in person, but was busy protecting his nation, and gave a recorded address instead, a precedent in UN history.
Although neither were present, most speeches focus on them. The clear and most significant influence of the war is that which began to be built between Russia, China and Iran, and the satellite states of each one. What is also interesting is that Chinese President Xi Jinping did not attend either. He did however participate at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Samarkand in Uzbekistan last week along with Raisi and Putin.
While Russia is trying to survive the war that it initiated, the West is cleaning up the rust and flexing its muscles for the crucial day. The US and the Europe Union are changing their energy policies. Germany and other European nations are rebuilding their military powers with incredibly investment (100 billion euros in Germany's case alone). Left-wing governments on the continent also understand that the belief that wars do not exist in the world anymore, is completely unrealistic.
In a world that has reorganized its geo-political status, Israel must also find its place. But here is a wide open gap that no one is talking about; between the political parties in Israel. In the seven months since Putin invaded Ukraine, former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not said one word condemning the Russian president or his actions. This is no coincidence. Netanyahu and his followers believe that both Israel interests, but also justice to some extent, require that Jerusalem remain on the fence.
So while the rest of the West is treating Putin as if he has taken the first steps towards a third world war, comparing him to Hitler, some of those close to Netanyahu understand, and even somewhat justify, the Russian leader.
In other words, it is obvious that Putin exaggerated by going out to war, and even more so considering the terrible war crimes committed by his soldiers. But these condemnations are heard only behind closed doors. Firstly, because Israel has diverse interests with Russia: freedom of action in Syria, the safety of the Jewish committee in the country, not pushing Moscow into the arms of Tehran, the fact that Jerusalem feels indebted to Moscow for returning the body of Zechariah Baumel while risking the live sof Russian soldiers, and, as happened toward the end of Barack Obama's term in office – the radical event where Israel needed Russian protection in the UN Security Council from the former US president who was not really fond of the Jewish state.
Secondly, the question of "justice," as much as it includes international politics. Those close to Netanyahu understand the rationale of the Russian president, who repeatedly warned the West against including Ukraine in the NATO military alliance. According to Putin, Ukraine joining NATO would be an existential threat for Russia, just as Iran's activities in Syria is an existential threat to Israel.
Putin cannot tolerate the thought that innovative ideas, such as democracy and freedom of expression will flourish among his neighbor. So he repeatedly warned the US against such a step. Unlike his predecessors, President Joe Biden ignored the warnings and gave NATO the green light to include Ukraine. Putin believed that he had no choice. He was right, but not wise, because he did not understand that he had fired the shot that started the war that has impacted the entire world.
The one who did understand this is Netanyahu, which is why he's kept quiet on the war. On the other hand, as he wins the election and becomes prime minister, he knows he will have to climb down the fence. Being loyal to such a position, Netanyahu wants to take a neutral and even supportive approach toward Russia. For this reason, in a survey held on Wednesday morning, he wanted to know how the public in Israel would react to such an unconventional approach.
"Do you agree or not agree to Benjamin Netanyahu calling for a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, and asking Ukraine to initiate peace negotiations with Russia?" was one of the questions. The general opinion was clear: Netanyahu, who visited Ukraine in 2019 only after Zelensky repeatedly begged him to do so, has put the burden of consent to negotiations on the Ukrainian president, and not on Putin.
In total contrast to this approach, current prime minister Yair Lapid has no doubt where he places Israel. As the foreign minister as well, Lapid condemned Russia. "One has to be on the right side of history," he said, justifying aligning with the West.
Lapid believes that Israel is an inseparable part of the Western-liberal cluster of countries. He believes that Israel can only trust countries who contemplate moral considerations, which Netanyahu does not agree with. In a world where international organizations, headed by the United Nations, cannot keep the peace or ensure the upholding of morals, it is a case of the "survival of the fittest" and Israel cannot rely on Europe while antisemitism is still flowing through its veins. He believes that Israel is located on the world map as an East-West island. And the balance between these two approaches will be determined by the parliamentary elections on Nov. 7.
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