Former Israeli PM Says Western Forces Blocked Ceasefire Early in Ukraine War
Naftali Bennett, the Prime Minister of Israel towards the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine last year, says the West “blocked” He was a broker of a ceasefire early in the war.
Bennett was the prime minister of Israel and then the alternate prime minister during a period of confusion in coalition politics before Benjamin Netanyahu returned to head of government in December. “there was a good chance of reaching a ceasefire” Before the West powers “curbed” Negotiations in a wide-ranging “a href=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qK9tLDeWBzs”>interview Upload to YouTube
Israel is among a few states that are traditionally considered to be aligned with Western Europe, including the likes India TurkeyBennett explained that the sanitization war with Russia and Ukraine has been largely facilitated by the sanitization of, which Bennett said was a minor or insignificant part. “the Americans expect… that we all rally for Ukraine” this would not necessarily have been in Israel’s interests.
Bennett gave the example of Israeli interests in Syria. “once or twice a week we attack the Iranian presence… Russia, the superpower, has the S-300 there, and if they press the button Israeli pilots will fall.”
“Who will save them? Biden? Zelensky? It [would have been] my problem,” He stated, after earlier suggesting that he had “made sure that Israel would have free rein in Syria” during his first in-person meeting with President Vladimir Putin — an ally of the Syrian and Iranian governments — prior the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
“[M]y focus is on Israel’s interests… My people,” Bennett said, explaining why he chose to position himself as a more non-aligned mediator between Putin and Zelensky after the outbreak of hostilities — and claiming that, without Western interference, his efforts might have succeeded.
“I asked ‘what’s up with this? Are you planning to kill Zelensky?’ He said ‘I won’t kill Zelensky.’ I then said to him ‘I have to understand that you’re giving me your word that you won’t kill Zelensky.’ He said ‘I’m not going to kill Zelensky.'” https://t.co/zIOz6ndFag
— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) February 5, 2023
Bennett claims that Putin gave him a guarantee that he would not assassinate President Volodymyr Zelesky in the initial period of the war. This is perhaps one of the most embarrassing claims Bennett makes about the war. “in a secret bunker” Before this promise was made.
Only after Bennett informed Zelensky of this gentleman’s agreement “by WhatsApp or Telegram”According to the Israeli, the Ukrainian had done it. “[go] to his office and [film] himself there on his phone” It is possible to say “I’m not afraid.”
Of greater geopolitical consequence, however, is Bennett’s account of his efforts to mediate a ceasefire between the two sides, which saw him fly into Russia and then Germany — despite having previously “made a point of never setting foot in Germany because of the Holocaust” — in search of a compromise agreement.
Bennett claimed that he approached U.S. president Joe Biden, U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken and U.S. national security advisor Jake Sullivan before becoming “a pipeline” for negotiations between Putin & Zelensky. And that everything was “fully coordinated” with Biden, President Emmanuel Macron of France, then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson of Britain, and Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany — who was said to be “very distressed” by the impact of the war on his country’s supply of Russian gas.
“Boris Johnson adopted the aggressive line, Macron and Scholz were more pragmatic, and Biden was both,” Bennett recalled that he was under the impression that Putin and Zelensky were both there “very much much wanted a ceasefire” Several concessions were made.
It was Ukraine’s backers, Bennett suggested, that proved to be the stumbling block, with there being a “decision by the West to keep striking Putin” Despite his conviction, at least at that time, that a ceasefire would be desirable, he continued to believe so.
“I turn to America in this regard, I don’t do as I please, anything I did was coordinated down to the last detail, with the U.S., Germany, and France,” He said it, and his interviewer interjected to get to the point.
“So they blocked it?” He asked.
“Basically, yes. They blocked it, and I thought they’re wrong. In retrospect, it’s too soon to know,” Bennett confirmed.
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— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) January 24, 2023
Bennett tried to give an impartial hearing to the West’s alleged attempt to stop a ceasefire. He noted the “downside[s] of the war going on” including the casualties on both sides, rising energy costs, impact on food exports to the Middle East — Ukraine and Russia both being major food producers — and the potential of a renewed migrant crisis in Europe if Africa, for example, is gripped by hunger, but conceding that Western governments may have other “legitimate” considerations.
“President Biden created an alliance vis a vis an aggressor, in the general perception, and this reflects on other arenas such as China, Taiwan, and there are consequences,” Bennett stated that Bennett suggested that leaders of America and other Western powers were eager to avoid an outcome that could have been interpreted as rewarding Putin. “imperialism”.
“I have one claim, I claim there was a good chance of reaching a ceasefire, had they not curbed it,” Bennett acknowledged that Bennett could not be certain if they were right or wrong, but he said that he can’t say for sure if it will turn out to be so in the long-term. “Maybe [a ceasefire] would have conveyed the wrong message to other countries.”
Perhaps surprisingly, the Israeli expressed a certain sympathy, or at least understanding, of Putin’s hostility towards NATO expanding into countries surrounding Russia after the Cold War, noting that “on a sidenote, the Americans have a centuries-old doctrine called the Monroe Doctrine, whereby the hegemony over the Western Hemisphere, North and South America, belong to the USA.”
“As early as 200 years ago they didn’t want France and Britain there: ‘Don’t come here.’ And to a degree that’s Putin’s perception: ‘Don’t come here, this is my backyard,’” He elaborated.
Putin was also praised by him, and he said so himself. “very smart, very sharp” But as someone who “struck me as a pro-Semite.”
“He likes Jews very much. He had Jewish neighbours who raised him as a kid,” Bennett continued, referring to a story in which a Russian leader bought an apartment for his former teacher who is now living in Israel.
“There are two sides to him,” Bennet said — but stressed that he was “not denying the other side.”
He also stated that Putin was obstinately opposed to Zelensky’s meeting after he declined a request from the Ukrainian to do so.
tête-à-tête prior to the invasion: “He was the nicest man up to then, and his gaze turned cold,” Bennett recalls that the Russian denounced Ukraine’s government as “Nazis” “warmongers” And ruled out a summit.
Bennett did not dismiss this narrative out of hand — despite Zelsnky’s Jewish background — stating that “Ukraine definitely was an accomplice, at certain times” Germany during the Second World War.
He said the Great Patriotic War, as the Russians term it, is key to Putin’s identity, and that he built a rapport with the Russian leader by “voice[ing] the truth that the main force that defeated the Nazis, make no mistake, was the USSR, the Red Army” — while diplomatically glossing over the fact that the Soviets had previously been allied to the Nazis and They invaded Poland together with them In 1939.
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— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) November 24, 2022
In terms of Israeli policy on the war, Bennett said he thought Prime Minister Netanyahu — “Bibi” — had refrained from attacking him over his approach while in opposition because he agreed it was a “very intelligent policy”.
This included, in addition to positioning himself as a mediator, providing Ukraine with humanitarian aid but not weapons — a position that Hungarian government has adopted the same.Although the Hungarians have faced far less criticism from the Biden administration than other members of the European Union establishment, it has been criticized.
“[A]ll this talk of being on the right side of history, I get it, but I have a national need [to consider],” Bennett explained, insisting that he is a certified instructor. “a responsibility” It is important to consider the impact on the Jews of Russia and Ukraine of an anti-Russian position, as well as other considerations like Israeli operations in Syria.
“The policy was right; it led Israel safely for ten months to where it is now,” He added that Netanyahu may decide to pursue a different policy due to changing circumstances. “any change is legitimate.”
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— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) January 1, 2023
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