Israel–Ukraine relations

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Israel–Ukraine relations
Map indicating locations of Israel and Ukraine

Israel
Ukraine
Diplomatic mission
Embassy of Israel, KyivEmbassy of Ukraine, Tel Aviv

Israel–Ukraine relations are foreign relations between Israel and Ukraine. Both countries recognized each other on 11 May 1949 as the Ukrainian SSR and established de jure diplomatic relations on 26 December 1991 when Ukraine became independent.[1] Israel has an embassy in Kyiv. Ukraine has an embassy in Tel Aviv and a consulate-general in Haifa. There are 30,000 Ukrainians settled in Israel,[2] while Ukraine has one of Europe's largest Jewish communities.[3] Ukraine is also the first state, apart from Israel, to have had both a Jewish president and prime minister simultaneously.

Ukraine and Israel have had tense relations during the Russo-Ukrainian conflict. Israel was neutral on Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014. The Israeli government of Naftali Bennett-Yair Lapid condemned the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine and sent humanitarian aid. The current government of Benjamin Netanyahu also sent aid. However, Israel has refused calls to impose sanctions on Russia or to send missile defense technology to Ukraine.[4][5][6] Ukraine has voted for UN resolutions against Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories.

History[edit]

Embassy of Ukraine in Tel Aviv

When Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union as the Ukrainian SSR, it was one of 33 states that voted for separate Jewish and Arab states in Mandatory Palestine during the UN Partition Plan in 1947. The Soviet Union broke off relations with Israel in 1967 after the Six-Day War and restored diplomatic relations in 1991, when Ukraine became independent.

After Russia illegally annexed Crimea in March 2014, Israel did not vote for a UN resolution condemning the annexation. US State Department Spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the US was "surprised that Israel did not join the vast majority of countries that voted to support Ukraine’s territorial integrity".[7] The Israeli government said it did not vote due to a public workers strike.[8] Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu later refused to condemn Russia's annexation.[9]

In November 2014, Oleg Vyshniakov, a Ukrainian entrepreneur and public figure, was appointed to Israel's honorary consul in western Ukraine.[10] In May 2015 he was inaugurated as honorary consul of Israel in Lviv.[11]

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Jerusalem, 24 January 2020

In December 2016, Ukraine as a non-permanent member of United Nations Security Council voted in favor of resolution 2334, which condemned Israel's settlement policy in the West Bank. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry considered the resolution balanced since it also urged the Palestinian side to combat terrorism.[12] Ukraine's foreign ministry likened Israel's settlement of the West Bank to the Russian occupation of Crimea.[13] In reaction, Israel cancelled a planned visit of the Ukrainian prime minister.[14]

Russian invasion of Ukraine[edit]

Ukrainian and Israeli national flags at a community centre in Jerusalem, following 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine

In February 2022, during the buildup to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the Ukrainian Ambassador to Israel accused Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid of repeating "Russian propaganda". The Israeli Foreign Ministry summoned the Ukrainian Ambassador for an official reprimand.[15]

When Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February 2022, Israeli Foreign Minister Lapid and Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett expressed support for Ukraine, although Bennett did not condemn Russia.[16] He offered humanitarian aid to the Ukrainians and help to Jews who wanted to leave Ukraine.[17][18] Israel's foreign ministry stated that it respected Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty, but did not mention Russia.[19]

On February 25, 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy requested Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett mediate in the war with Russia, according to the Ukrainian envoy to Israel.[20] On 5 March, Prime Minister Bennett flew to Moscow and held a three-hour meeting with Putin about the war in Ukraine, after which Bennett spoke to Zelenskyy by phone.[21] At the Kremlin, Bennett also raised the issue of the Jewish community caught up in the invasion.[21][22] An unnamed senior Ukrainian official accused Bennett of having "proposed that we surrender", claiming Bennett urged Zelenskyy to "take the offer" of a "peace deal" from Putin. This report was denied by the Israeli Prime Minister's office and a senior adviser to Zelenskyy.[23]

Israel declined to co-sponsor a UN Security Council resolution condemning the Russian invasion; the United States expressed disappointment.[24] Israel later voted in favour of the resolution condemning the invasion.[25]

On March 11, 2022, Ukraine's ambassador urged Israel to impose sanctions on Russia, take more Ukrainian refugees, and supply defensive weapons.[26] In a speech to Ukraine's parliament on March 20, President Zelenskyy chastised Israel, asking why it was not sending Ukraine missile defenses or condemning Russia for its invasion. Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid replied that Israel would help Ukraine's people "as much as we can" by continuing to send humanitarian aid.[27] On July 3, Israel lifted its restrictions on the numbers of Ukrainian refugees it would take. Ukraine's president Zelenskyy welcomed the decision.[28] An estimated 15,000 Ukrainian refugees had fled to Israel.[29]

In October 2022, after a wave of Russian missile strikes, Ukraine's president Zelenskyy lambasted Israel for refusing to supply missile defenses.[30] Shortly after, however, he said that relations with Israel were improving as they had begun sharing intelligence about the Iranian drones being used by Russia.[31]

In November 2022, Ukraine supported a UN resolution that asked the International Court of Justice to investigate Israel's "prolonged occupation, settlement and annexation of Palestinian territory". In response, Israel summoned and admonished the Ukrainian ambassador.[32] Then, in "an apparent act of retaliation", Israel did not support a UN resolution calling on Russia to pay reparations for invading Ukraine.[33]

In May 2023, an Israeli-made missile alert system began operating in Kyiv. Ukrainian Ambassador to Israel, Yevgen Korniychuk, credited Netanyahu's personal involvement in this process. However, Israel refuses to supply Ukraine with missile defenses.[34] Israel has noted the danger posed by Russians capturing an Iron Dome system, which could result in Iran gaining access to it and reverse-engineering the weapons.[35] The system uses a version of the Tzeva Adom alert system modified for suit Ukraine and calculates the time of approach which is then notified to the civilians by a siren which gives a special signal that indicates the amount of time the people have to hide. [36]

Israel-Hamas war[edit]

Despite the tense Ukraine-Israel relations,[37] when Hamas attacked Israel in October 2023, President Zelenskyy offered condolences for the hundreds of civilian deaths and expressed solidarity with Israelis. Al Arabiya noted that Ukraine has been seeking Israeli air defense expertise to stop Russian missiles.[38] Following the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital explosion, Ukraine's Foreign Ministry condemned attacks on civilians in Gaza, called on all sides to abide by international humanitarian law, and supported a two-state solution to the conflict.[39]

Economic relations[edit]

In 2012, the bilateral trade turnover between the countries was 1.3 billion dollars, a growth of 49.1% in comparison to 2011. The total export of Ukraine was 922.5 million dollars (796.4 in products and 126.1 in services). The import reached the amount of 364.2 million dollars (266.8 in goods and 97.4 in services). The main exports from Ukraine to Israel in 2012 were: grain (50.6%), non-precious metal (18.2%), aircraft (6.9%), food industry byproducts (5.8%), oil seeds and oleaginous fruits (3.3%), fats and oils of animal or vegetable origin (1.5%), electrical machinery (1.2%), nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery (1.1%). The main Israeli imports to Ukraine in 2012 were: mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation (42.4%), various chemical products (9.0%), plastics (7.0%), goods purchased in ports (5.5%), pharmaceutical products (4.8%), electrical machinery (4.4%), nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery (4.1%), fruits and nuts (3.1%), optical: photographic equipment (2.2%), soap: organic surface-active substances (1.9%), synthetic or artificial (1.7%), vegetables (1.6%), essential oils (1.5%).[40]

Vice Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze with Minister for Regional Cooperation of the State of Israel Tzachi Hanegbi, 2018

Israel Foreign Trade Administration at the Ministry of Economy operates an Economic & Trade Mission in Kyiv. Its main goal is the promotion of trade and export by assisting Israeli industry expanding in the Ukrainian market, supporting individual exporters in marketing activity in Ukraine, attracting investment and expansion of strategic cooperation with Ukraine, improving knowledge of the Ukrainian business of Israeli industry and economy and helping in solving problems arising for Israeli companies operating in Ukraine. The economic attaché in Ukraine is Elizabeth Solovyov.[41] Israel's honorary consul in western Ukraine, Oleg Vyshniakov, established an inter-ministerial committee for Ukrainian-Israeli trade and economic cooperation, as well as an economic business forum, which launched in November 2015 in Kyiv. Leading developers in the fields of Industry and Trade in Ukraine and Israel are taking part of this program.[42]

Ukraine has been Israel's main wheat supplier for many years, accounting for almost half of the country's wheat consumption. As of 2022, Israel imports corn and corn products, barley, rapeseed and soybeans. Agricultural exports to Israel exceed $400 million a year.[43]

Travel and tourism[edit]

In July 2010 the foreign ministers of two countries signed an agreement of non visa traffic between Israel and Ukraine.[44] This came into effect on 9 February 2011 and since then Ukrainians and Israelis may enter territory, travel through or stay on Ukraine or Israel without having to obtain visas for 90 days within a period of 180 days.[45] Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko stated in September 2016 that this visa-free regime had increased tourist flow between two countries tenfold.[46]

In May 2015, two direct Lviv-Tel Aviv-Lviv flights a week were initiated, operated by Ukraine International Airlines.[47]

Ukraine is an important destination for Jewish tourism, as many Jewish saints are buried there. Each year, on Rosh HaShanah, more than 40,000 Jewish tourists come to the city of Uman, in what is known as the Rosh Hashana kibbutz, this being a large source of revenue for the city.[citation needed]

Ukraine is associated with the Holocaust as the site of Babi Yar. A special tourism program for Jews and Israelis was developed in cooperation with the Lviv Municipality and the District Administration, includes visits to Jewish memorial sites and architecture, operated by Hebrew speaking tourist guides.[48]

Expatriate communities[edit]

Ukraine has one of the world's largest Jewish communities; estimates of its size vary widely, from at least 70,000 individuals up to 400,000 individuals.[3]

State visits[edit]

Isaac Herzog state visit to Ukraine, October 2021

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko paid a state visit to Israel on 22 December 2015, where he met with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and addressed the Knesset.[49] Rivlin visited Ukraine in September 2016.[46]

In 2021, Israeli President Isaac Herzog paid a state visit to Ukraine. During the visit, Herzog, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, and the Chief Rabbi of Kyiv Jonathan Markovitch[50][51] attended the inauguration of a memorial to victims of Babyn Yar on the 80th anniversary of the Nazi massacre of 33,000 Jews in a ravine near Kyiv in September 1941.[52]

Notable incidents[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ From the history of the Ukrainian Embassy
  2. ^ Kitsoft. "Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine - Middle East and Africa". mfa.gov.ua. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Ukraine". European Jewish Congress. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
  4. ^ "Netanyahu deputy urges Israel to help defend Ukraine against Russian 'terrorism'". Reuters. 21 February 2023.
  5. ^ "Ukraine lays out demands for Israel ahead of key visit to Kyiv". Axios. 5 February 2023.
  6. ^ Rakov, Daniel (28 February 2023). "The Netanyahu Government's Approach to Russia and Ukraine". The Washington Institute for Near East Policy.
  7. ^ "US 'surprised' Israel did not support UN vote on Ukraine's territorial integrity". The Jerusalem Post. 15 April 2014.
  8. ^ Ravid, Barak; Lis, Jonathan (13 April 2014). "Defense official on Ukraine policy: Israeli policy needn't be identical to U.S.'". www.haaretz.com. Haaretz Daily Newspaper Ltd. Retrieved 13 April 2014.
  9. ^ "In Ukraine, Netanyahu refuses to condemn Russian annexation of Crimea". The Times of Israel. 19 August 2019.
  10. ^ Appointment of Oleg Vishnikov as Honorary Consul Archived 20 January 2022 at the Wayback Machine, Website of the Israeli consulate in Ukraine, November 2014
  11. ^ Grand opening of the Honorary Israeli Consulate Archived 18 September 2020 at the Wayback Machine, Website of the Israeli consulate in Ukraine, May 2015
  12. ^ 'US pressured Ukraine to support the UN Security Council resolution on settlements,' Archived 30 December 2016 at the Wayback Machine Euro-Asian Jewish Congress, 28 December 2016.
  13. ^ "Ukraine hints conflict with Russia led it to back UN measure". The Times of Israel. 26 December 2016.
  14. ^ Ahren, Raphael (24 December 2016). "PM cancels visit of Ukrainian PM after Kiev supports anti-settlements resolution". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  15. ^ "Israel Rebukes Ukraine Ambassador Over Criticizing Lapid's 'Propaganda' on Russia". Haaretz. 7 February 2022.
  16. ^ Ravid, Barak (24 February 2022). "Israel condemns Russian invasion of Ukraine as a "violation of world order"". Axios. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  17. ^ Harkov, Lahav; Lazaroff, Tovah (24 February 2022). "Israel condemns Russian attack on Ukraine". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  18. ^ Kampeas, Ron (25 February 2022). "Why Israel is having trouble picking sides in Russia's war on Ukraine". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  19. ^ Lis, Jonathan; Sokol, Sam (23 February 2022). "In First Official Statement, Israel Says It Supports Ukraine's Territorial Integrity, Sovereignty". Haaretz. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  20. ^ Williams, Dan (25 February 2022). "Zelenskiy asks Israel to mediate with Russia, Ukraine envoy says". Reuters. Reuters. Reuters. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  21. ^ a b Williams, Dan; Lubell, Mayaan (5 March 2022). "Israeli PM meets Putin in Moscow, then speaks with Zelenskiy by phone". Reuters. Reuters. Reuters. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  22. ^ "Bennett returns to Israel after whirlwind trip to meet Putin, brief Germany's Scholz". The Times of israel. 6 March 2022.
  23. ^ "Ukraine official said to claim Bennett pushed Zelensky to 'surrender' to Putin deal". Times of Israel. 11 March 2022.
  24. ^ Magid, Jacob (26 February 2022). "Despite US request Israel refrains from co-sponsoring UNSC resolution against Russia". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  25. ^ Magid, Jacob (2 March 2022). "UN General Assembly, including Israel, votes overwhelmingly to condemn Russia". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  26. ^ "Ukraine urges Israel to step up support and sanction Russia". Reuters. Reuters. Reuters. 11 March 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  27. ^ "Israel will help Ukrainians 'as much as we can,' foreign minister says". Reuters. 20 March 2022. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  28. ^ volodymyr, zelensky. "I commend the decision of the Supreme Court of the State of Israel, which obliges the government of 🇮🇱 to abolish any additional restrictions on the entry of citizens of 🇺🇦. The rule of law and respect for human rights is exactly what distinguishes a true, developed democracy!". Twitter. Archived from the original on 3 July 2022. Retrieved 3 July 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  29. ^ "Over 15,000 have immigrated to Israel since Russia invaded Ukraine: ministry". The Times of Israel. 25 April 2022.
  30. ^ "Zelenskyy blasts Israel, suggests Russia-Iran nuclear collusion". Al Jazeera. 24 October 2022.
  31. ^ volodymyr, zelensky. "Zelensky hails 'positive trend' in Israel ties after intel sharing on Iranian drones | the Times of Israel". TOI. Archived from the original on 31 October 2022. Retrieved 26 October 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  32. ^ "Israel admonishes Ukrainian ambassador over U.N. vote". Reuters. 15 November 2022.
  33. ^ "Israel abstains on pro-Ukraine UN resolution after Kyiv backed Palestinian measure". The Times of Israel. 15 November 2022.
  34. ^ "Israel sends Ukraine missile-alert system". 3 May 2023.
  35. ^ "Netanyahu rules out giving Ukraine Iron Dome anti-missile system". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  36. ^ "Israeli early-warning radar system to start working in Kyiv soon". Militarnyi. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
  37. ^ "Ukrainians stand with Israel amid war with Hamas, despite grievances". Al Jazeera. 10 October 2023.
  38. ^ "Zelenskyy expresses solidarity with Israel amid deadly Hamas attacks". Al Arabiya. 8 October 2023.
  39. ^ "Statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine on casualties at the Al Ahli Hospital in the Gaza Strip". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. 18 October 2023.
  40. ^ "Trade and economic cooperation between Israel and Ukraine". Archived from the original on 5 June 2016. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  41. ^ "Elizabeth Solovyov in Israel Trade Administration (hebrew)". Archived from the original on 13 March 2016. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  42. ^ Establishment of an inter-ministerial committee for Ukrainian-Israeli industrialists Archived 18 September 2020 at the Wayback Machine, Website of the Israeli consulate in Ukraine, July 2015
  43. ^ Briman, Shimon (10 February 2022). "The 'Ten Plagues' Facing Israel if Russia Invades Ukraine". Haaretz. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  44. ^ Правительство Израиля проголосовало за отмену визового режима с Украиной КорреспонденТ.net 20 June 2010
  45. ^ Visa-free travel between Ukraine and Israel to start on Feb.9, Kyiv Post (8 February 2010)
  46. ^ a b Introduction of visa-free regime with Israel increased tourist flow between two countries tenfold, Interfax-Ukraine (27 September 2016)
  47. ^ Launching direct flights from Lviv to Tel Aviv and vice versa Archived 18 September 2020 at the Wayback Machine, Website of the Israeli consulate in Ukraine, May 2015
  48. ^ Developing a special tourism programs for Jews and Israelis in Ukraine Archived 18 September 2020 at the Wayback Machine, Website of the Israeli consulate in Ukraine, April 2015
  49. ^ "'Ukraine stands with the State of Israel'". Arutz Sheva. 22 December 2015. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  50. ^ "In Ukraine, Israeli President Remembers the Rebbe". 7 October 2021.
  51. ^ "In Ukraine, Israeli President remembers the Rebbe". 7 October 2021.
  52. ^ Judah, Jacob (8 October 2021). "80 years later, and after several failed projects, Ukraine inaugurates historic memorial to Babyn Yar victims". Jewish Telegraphic Agency.

External links[edit]

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