In response to warnings from Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha about the possible arrival in the port of Haifa of a second ship carrying stolen Ukrainian grain, his Israeli counterpart, Gideon Sa’ar, advised him to provide evidence rather than make accusations on social media.

At first glance, this response appears to reflect the stance of an experienced politician explaining to a less seasoned colleague how to act in a delicate situation.

If only it were not for the precedent of a previous vessel carrying stolen grain that had already appeared in Haifa. The ABINSK not only entered Israeli waters but also managed to leave the port without consequence. The Israeli foreign minister simply “did not have time” to react to the evidence provided by his Ukrainian counterpart. According to high-level diplomatic sources in Kyiv, the documents gathered by Ukraine never even reached the desk of Israel’s state prosecutor, instead remaining in the archives of the Foreign Ministry. Now, Ukraine intends to submit evidence directly to the Israeli prosecutor’s office. It is therefore possible that Gideon Sa’ar will not review them at all.

When Israel’s foreign minister responds to a cry of “Stop, thief!” from a country he calls a friend by first demanding proof, it brings to mind a scene on the Jerusalem light rail. Someone next to you shouts that their wallet has been stolen, and instead of offering help or calling the police, you advise the victim to first prove that the wallet – and its contents – actually belonged to them. Such a reaction is only plausible if you know both the victim and the thief. Or at least if you know the thief – and are afraid of them.

I have no grounds to accuse Gideon Sa’ar of bias against Ukraine. I attended his meeting with representatives of Ukraine’s Jewish community in Kyiv and heard him express support for Ukraine in its struggle against Russian aggression. He has also repeatedly condemned that aggression publicly, including in his speeches at the UN Security Council.

But when it comes to concrete interests – such as the sale of stolen goods – other considerations often prevail. Corruption? Fear of Russia? Fear of China, whose companies operate the new port terminal in Haifa?

Recent years have shown that such caution – this desire not to step on the bear’s paw – leads nowhere. The Kremlin does not treat Israel as a country whose interests must be respected. It continues to support Israel’s adversaries. And these adversaries are shared by Israel and Ukraine alike. Behind Iran stands the backing of Russia and China. Iran supports Russia in its war against Ukraine, while Russia helps Iran withstand confrontation with the United States and Israel. On the very day Sybiha addressed Sa’ar, Vladimir Putin was in St. Petersburg embracing Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi.

This is why one would expect Israel’s foreign minister to seek ways to address the problem of stolen grain together with Ukraine, rather than lecturing his Ukrainian counterpart as if he were a negligent student. Any other approach suggests that fear of Russia – and the hope of understanding where none exists – still remains a defining factor in Israeli diplomacy.

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)