Israel in an unusual message against Russia: "We will not recognize the results of the referendums in the occupied territories in Ukraine" | Israel today

Israel clarified this evening (Tuesday) that it does not intend to recognize the results of the referendums held by Russia in the occupied regions of Ukraine with the aim of officially annexing them.

"Israel recognizes the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, and will not recognize the results of the referendums in the eastern regions," reads a statement published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Against the background of Israeli conduct to date in relation to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, this is a position that is not self-evident.

Unlike other Western countries, Israel took a fairly moderate line vis-a-vis Moscow and refused any Ukrainian request to transfer or sell military equipment to it.

Officials in Kiev have turned to Jerusalem in recent days in order to get clarifications regarding the Israeli position regarding the referendums, and when no answer was received for several days, the tension in the relations between the countries increased even more.

"These 'referendums' caused a great resonance all over the world," a senior Ukrainian official told Israel Hayom, "the G7 countries have already condemned them and said they will not recognize their results, neutral Kazakhstan and Turkey have announced that they will not accept them, and even Serbia, which has relations is close to Moscow, shrugs off the questions. Only Israel is silent on the matter."

The source even added that the state of relations between the countries is "under the floor" and noted that Prime Minister Lapid was one of the few leaders who refrained from referring to the war in Ukraine in his speech at the United Nations.

In response to Israel Hayom's request on the eve of the holiday, the Foreign Ministry replied that "the issue is still under discussion."

The publication of Israel's unequivocal position this evening may reduce the tension with Ukraine, but on the other hand it is expected that it will not be well received in Moscow.

Yesterday, Russia completed the hasty "referendums" in the "republics" of Donetsk and Luhansk, and in the territories of the Zaporizhia and Kherson districts that it took over during its invasion.

Even before they were edited, their alleged results were leaked to the network.

As far as the Kremlin is concerned, the purpose of the referendums is one: to annex the territories and then create an excuse to defend the "Russian" territory by "means permitted by the constitution" - a hint of the possible use of nuclear weapons.

In any case, in Kiev they are not impressed by the threats and continue the operation to liberate the occupied territories.

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