Ukraine is hoping to purchase Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system and obtain other Israeli military assistance that the Middle Eastern nation has so far refused to provide.
Ukraine's ambassador to Israel blasted the Jewish state on Tuesday for not doing enough to help Ukraine in its war against Russian invaders. Ambassador Yevgen Korniychuk said Ukraine wants to purchase the Iron Dome rocket system from Israel while accusing Israel of blocking Germany from transferring an Israeli-made anti-tank guided missile system to Ukraine and offering "zero military-technical cooperation."
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“We need Israeli assistance. ... I mean that we need the military-technical support. We need Iron Dome ... which will allow us to save our civilian women and children from the shelling of the Russian missiles in our territory,” Korniychuk told reporters in Tel Aviv, according to the Jerusalem Post.
The ambassador expressed frustration with the lack of military support Israel has provided Ukraine since Russia's Feb. 24 invasion, telling reporters that Israel blocked Ukraine's attempt to obtain the Spike SR anti-tank guided missile system from Germany even after the United States signed off the transfer. Israeli company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems manufacturers the Spike SR system and licenses it to Germany and other European countries.
“Last week, from what I know for sure, Americans gave permission for the anti-spike missiles to be transferred from Germany to Ukraine, and Israel said no,” Korniychuk said, adding that Germany was in favor of the transfer, too.
Korniychuk accused Israel of putting the war in Ukraine in the rearview mirror.
“Ukraine has been removed from the Israeli press almost completely,” he said. “So there is no war anymore.”
“I want the Israeli government to move away from its comfort zone and get back to reality,” Korniychuk added.
Israel has only provided limited support for Ukraine's war effort, such as helmets and vests for soldiers and humanitarian aid that included operating a field hospital inside the country.
Israel's lack of military support for Ukraine stems from fears that it would inflame tensions with Russia, which Israel relies on for security coordination when carrying out military strikes in neighboring Syria, according to reports.
It is unclear if Israel would be willing to sell the Iron Dome missile defense system, which the U.S. has been financially supporting for roughly a decade, to Ukraine.
The Iron Dome system is 90% effective at intercepting and destroying incoming rockets fired into Israel, according to Israeli officials, and Korniychuk believes it would save lives in Ukraine.
“I do not want to call this a weapon,” he said. “I call it protective gear that will protect our civilians. You can not kill with it.”
“We don’t need a donation. We want to buy it,” Korniychuk added. “Israel does not owe Ukraine anything. We are not begging you for help. We do believe that on the moral side, Israel has to take the part of the rest of the Western world and help Ukraine with all possible means.”
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/ukraine-hopes-to-buy-iron-dome-missile-defense-system-from-israel
Once Israel sells this system to Ukraine, the world's orders (for defense) will go to Israel. That's good business! make a deal now.
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