Israel summons Ukrainian ambassador over criticism of Netanyahu's Putin remarks

Israel has summoned Ukraine's ambassador for a formal reprimand following his public criticism of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's remarks regarding his contacts with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The diplomatic rebuke, reported by Israeli media on Wednesday, underscores the sensitive balancing act in Israel's relations with Kyiv and Moscow.

The ambassador's critique and Israel's sharp response

Ambassador Yevgen Korniychuk drew Israeli ire after telling the Yedioth Ahronoth daily that he was "surprised by Netanyahu's remarks, especially considering what Israel endured on Oct. 7. One must stand on the right, moral side of history." This was in response to Netanyahu telling the Knesset on Monday about his "personal relationship" with Putin, whom he said he speaks with "on a regular basis" to serve Israel's "vital interests," including security on its northern border.

Israeli ministry asserts support for Ukraine

During the summons, Yuval Fuchs, deputy director-general for Eurasian Affairs at the Israeli Foreign Ministry, informed the ambassador that his comments were "entirely unacceptable and deviated from diplomatic protocol." Fuchs asserted that the criticism ignored Israel's "clear position since the outbreak of the war," citing Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar's visit to Kyiv this year and Israel's voting record at the UN as evidence of support. He expressed hope future comments would align with a shared desire to strengthen bilateral cooperation.

The context of Israel's delicate diplomatic stance

The incident highlights the tension in Israel's foreign policy, which seeks to maintain operational coordination with Russia in Syria while providing humanitarian and political support to Ukraine. Netanyahu's emphasis on his Putin ties is framed as a necessity for Israeli security, particularly regarding Iranian entrenchment in Syria, but it often clashes with the expectations of Western allies and nations like Ukraine that are directly combating Russian aggression.