In the attempt to mediate between Russia and Ukraine, Bennett turns out to be more Bibi than Bibi

The prime minister's decision to take the lead in a global crisis and meet with Putin was also intended to put him as a statesman in the major leagues. to him

His dew

11/03/2022

Friday, March 11, 2022, 08:00 Updated: 08:58

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The evening after Prime Minister Naftali Bennett returned from the skipping campaign between Jerusalem, Moscow and Berlin, his office watched the news releases with a satisfied smile.

The first ten minutes of all were devoted to diplomatic efforts and the political feature surrounding Israel's mediation efforts between Russia and Ukraine, and a News 13 poll showed sweeping public support for his visit to the Kremlin (48%) and the active part he leads in ceasefire efforts (52%);

And although his predecessor in office still receives almost triple support from him on the question of eligibility for prime minister, Bennett strengthened to 20% and overtook his cabinet members, Yair Lapid and Bnei Gantz, straight to second place.

His entourage hopes that his first significant international debut, in which he showed that not only Benjamin Netanyahu can play on the field of the greats, will further narrow the gap.

Between the mental supervision of Saturday's flight and the decision to be the first and only Western leader to arrive in the Kremlin in the midst of the brutal attack on Ukraine, between the nightly dinner with German Chancellor and the marathon of phone calls with Putin, Zelsky and Macron - Bennett's move was grandiose and dramatic.

He rescued him from the grayness between the corona waves and the table cleanups in the coalition to the forefront of the world stage and left no one indifferent: senior Israeli tweeters debated the nature of courage / pretentiousness / innovation / recklessness, Google had a jump in international searches for his name.

Brand-promotionally he was a success, only not sure that his peace dove, if any at all, had much influence.

In the week since the visit to the Kremlin, fighting has continued in full force, both on Ukrainian soil and in the arena of economic sanctions on Russia, and fears in the West of Putin's drastic marches are growing.

Moreover, the Russians and the Ukrainians did meet yesterday for direct negotiations, but not in Jerusalem, but in Turkey, and as far as is known, there was no Israeli presence there.

However, Jerusalem did deal with a series of noises and diplomatic shorts against Kyiv, which began with the foreign minister's attack and apology on El Al, continued with briefings by unknown Israeli elements against Ukrainian conduct, and ended with a farce around Zalansky's request for a Knesset speech during the break. !.

Towards the end of the week, the fame of the trip had waned a bit, and the heroic headlines gave way to the burning internal debates in the coalition on refugee policy and the painful sight of failures at the Ben Gurion Airport reception.

More on Walla!

Russia-Ukraine mediation efforts: Bennett and Putin talk again;

Lapid will meet with Blinkan

To the full article

Not sure his peace dove, if at all, had any effect at all.

Bennett (Photo: Screenshot, Network 13)

Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger coined the quote "Israel has no foreign policy, only domestic policy", which became a media cliché during Netanyahu's 12 years in power.

Like then, even today, the truth is in the middle, and it is usually both.

Israel is indeed now in a unique strategic position and situation;

It is one of the only countries in the world with strong ties in both Russia and Ukraine, and has a national duty towards their large and respected Jewish communities that are struggling from the battles and war, and most importantly - the only one whose Russian army sits on the northern fence and restricts its freedom of action.

But from here to stabilizing as a global mediator in the most violent conflict the world has known in years has a great distance, as well as the decision to meet with the Russian president at the height of a renewed Cold War with our great US ally. Bennett updated the White House on travel in advance, but not Consulted with them or asked for their permission.

Bennett's argument is the moral obligation to prevent bloodshed: "Even if the chances are not great, once there is even a small opening ... as long as the candle is lit one must make an effort and perhaps action can be taken," he said at a cabinet meeting on Sunday. With the Chancellor of Germany, one of the bridesmaids of the move.

But in the spirit of Kissinger, beyond geo-strategy and morality, there is also politics, in which Bennett recognized an opportunity to establish an image as a super-statesman in the jet club of world leaders, like his predecessor.

Like his predecessor, Bennett made the decision to try mediation alone.

White House Normalization Agreement, 2020 (Photo: Reuters)

He made the decision to travel to the Kremlin alone with his advisers, Foreign Minister Lapid and Defense Minister Bnei Gantz were updated only after the tide had already fallen.

There has been no in-depth discussion with the defense establishment or the State Department about the implications of success or failure, or the implications that the mediation policy may have on the nuclear talks with Iran, which are in the final stages of signing the agreement.

The Political-Security Cabinet has not been convened to update or consult on the issue in the last ten days.

It is too early to judge further Bennett's mediation efforts and whether they will help save even one soul, Dayano, but the prime minister should be required to lead an almost monumental political move without going through any formal or informal decision-making junction, and act as if all political and strategic wisdom is preserved. Only to him and his team of close advisors.

More Bibi than Bibi.

One can only imagine what a commotion would have erupted if it had been the former prime minister.

In fact, there is no need to imagine, one can recall the events of 2020, when Netanyahu excluded Gantz and Gabi Ashkenazi from the normalization agreements with the Emirates and Morocco.

This time, Bennett's senior partners were politely restrained, and it passed quietly.

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• Vladimir Putin