The Russian invasion of Ukraine has a dangerous potential, much wider than the immediate scope of the campaign: it could adversely change the world order.
This is certainly felt in every country that once belonged to the Soviet Union, and in the wider circle - to the Soviet bloc.
Although Putin is currently focusing on Ukraine, it is questionable whether he will be content with that in the face of Western weakness.
And Russia is not alone, of course;
China, too, which yesterday expressed support for Russia, is following suit, which could have a direct impact on Taiwan's fate.
These are worrying processes, even in Israel.
Whoever attacked Foreign Minister Lapid's support for the Ukrainians yesterday was wrong three times: once because Israel - which arose from the ashes of the Holocaust - must always place itself on the right side of history;
A second time that Israel should be careful to side with the US and the West; and a third time that Putin has once again proved that he has no motive other than the Russian one. His cooperation with Israel in Syria rests on local interests, which may change rapidly. With Iran on a range of issues, including in the nuclear fields, to understand that it is not a stable backbone, and certainly not a substitute for the US.
Russia's armored vehicles near the border with Ukraine, Photo: EP
And yet, it is likely that Israel will henceforth try to stay as far as it can outside this cauldron.
She will probably focus most of her love now on efforts to rescue any of the Israelis and Jews in Ukraine who want to do so.
Yesterday there were many of them, who called for help.
It is worth wondering why in recent weeks they have ignored the loud calls of every possible factor to leave the country, before the war begins.
It can be estimated that most Jews and Israelis will still want to stay in Ukraine.
They are not the target of the war: Russia wants Ukraine, and achieves its target relatively easily.
The Ukrainian army collapsed easily, and the Russians' path to Kiev - and beyond - was paved last night.
Not that there was any doubt that it would be so;
The gap between the armies is enormous, and once the West has announced that it will not intervene, the battle has in fact been decided.
A house destroyed by Russian bombing on the outskirts of Kiev, Photo: AP
The loss of determination in the West to fight is very disturbing.
President Biden waved a white flag as early as the beginning of his term, when he made it clear that he would not send troops to foreign fields, and then led the frightened withdrawal from Afghanistan.
The projection of these on American deterrence was tremendous.
As mentioned, we may now be predicting only its first buds, and it is possible that the consequences will reach Israel as well - if Iran and its emissaries now feel free and safer to act.
The immediate Israeli lesson is obvious: we can only trust ourselves.
The global lesson is broader: in the absence of determination, the recognized world order will be broken.
While the Americans and Europeans are likely to impose sanctions on Russia now, it will be too little and too late, certainly for Ukraine.
Anyone who wants to live in the future in a free and secure world must remember that just like in World War II, he is sometimes required to pay for it with blood, sweat and tears.
Were we wrong?
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