Naftali Bennett's Saturday flight to Moscow has become one of the most shocking surprises of the Ten Days of War in Ukraine.
Prior to the Russian invasion, the Kremlin had been criticized by high-ranking officials - Western leaders came one after another, in an attempt to persuade Putin not to carry out the attack.
When it became clear that their efforts had not borne fruit, Putin was sentenced to political isolation, which was now broken during his meeting with the Israeli prime minister.
On his way to Moscow, Bennett also relied on the achievements of his predecessor, Benjamin Netanyahu.
The special status that upgraded Israel's political prestige, and more importantly, allowed it to neutralize both security and political risks (due diligence: the Knesset served as Netanyahu's adviser).
Does this mean that Israel can currently serve as an effective mediator between Russia and Ukraine, or more precisely between Russia and the United States? It is highly doubtful that the mediation mission has any feasibility. The mediator is nothing more than a negotiator, and his proposals have been rejected by both hawkish parties. To those who dream of the wreaths of peacemakers, that the fate of a mediator fails badly and bitterly: after his failure, both sides hold a grudge against him and blame him for the continued sacrifice and suffering.
Putin and Bennett in Sochi, Photo: Kobi Gideon, GPO
At the same time, it should not be forgotten that Bennett's departure to Russia came against the background of increasing pressure on him to take a stand on the war in Ukraine, as well as against the background of the news of the imminent signing of the new nuclear deal between the powers and Iran.
In this context, the volunteer of the Prime Minister of Israel to act as a mediator relieves him of the obligation to choose a party, since a mediator is expected to maintain ambiguity and not release statements about the justice or injustice of either party.
After Ukrainian President Zalansky accused Bennett of "not wrapping himself in the Ukrainian flag", the perfect excuse was found: I do not wrap your flag to act to stop the war, Bennett will tell his desperate colleague for help.
For Israeli citizens, Bennett's trip to Putin can have only one justification - thwarting the nuclear deal.
With all the sorrow that is happening in Ukraine, the apparent surrender of the Western countries to the morbid pursuit of the ayatollahs after the nuclear program - will have several times more dangerous consequences.
If a visit to Moscow can frustrate this scenario, then the Israeli prime minister has done the right thing.
If he just wasted time on idle mediation instead of investing in stopping the Iranian nuclear program - this wrong priority will cost us even more.
Were we wrong?
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