By Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D
JERUSALEM — The war continues, at high intensity. Pictures of suffering refugees, more than a million getting to Poland, Moldova, Romania, and Hungary. Picking at bundles of donated clothing, and being fed soup and drinks. Severe shortages of food and medicines in Ukrainian cities. Heavy Russian shelling. Much destruction of homes. Heartbreaking.
Reminds us of the platitude that it’s easier to begin a war than to end one.
I’ve heard from a Polish friend that they have accepted two Ukrainian families in their home. I presume this kind of aid is widespread. People getting over the borders, usually without the men in their families who stay behind, or who are kept behind in order to participate in the struggle. Hotels filled. Large tents with temporary beds. With the refugees having no obvious places to go, in order to rest, eat, drink, and wash. Travels of more than a day to reach a border.
The future? We’ve heard hints of a putsch against Russian President Vladimir Putin on the one hand, and on the other a continued escalation to nuclear warfare. Or something in between. Who knows? Lots of speculation.
Conversations or contacts, perhaps negotiations between Russian and Ukrainian officials. So far no hope of a solution.
Likewise with respect to Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s long conversation with Putin, followed by three conversations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Speculation is that there was no breakthrough.
At the beginning, it was possible to indicate a point in Russia’s favor. The U.S. and European countries seemed disinclined to indicate that NATO would not accept Ukraine as a member. But did the Russian posture justify such a destructive war? Certainly not.
Zelensky has commented about his contacts with Bennett, saying both warm things and the point that Bennett is not wrapping himself in the flag of Ukraine.
Israel’s position is delicate. It maintains good relations with Russia in Syria, and has joined a U.N. vote against Russia in Ukraine. It participated with other countries in donating humanitarian aid to Ukraine. Lots of Israelis are demonstrating and donating for the sake of Ukraine. But some are noting that Ukraine did not support Israel against the Arabs. So, why should the Israeli government risk its relations with Russia in order to support the Ukrainian militarily?
There remains a dicey question about Israel’s supply of field hospitals to Ukraine.
Commentators urge Western intervention, militarily, but overlook the possibility of escalation to a nuclear confrontation. Sacrifice Ukraine? Humanitarian aid, along with military aid, but no foreign troops on the ground?
Economic sanctions against Russia are tough, but will take a while to have a decisive effect. Meanwhile, the Russians have enough to eat, enough local gas and oil to propel their army. But Russia begins with a third world economy along with first world weapons of mass destruction. We see pictures of tanks stalled on the road to Kyiv. Either Putin doesn’t want to capture the city, or he faces a difficult task of moving forward.
It’s conceivable that the sanctions will produce a weakened Russia, but not one destroyed as Ukraine. Will the Russians in towns and villages feel the impact? The yachts and planes of the financial elite are being seized if available in western countries. Will this impact on Putin? Could there be two catastrophes?
Reports of Ukrainian cities captured by Russia, but denied by Ukrainian officials. Who to believe? Probably neither. Lots of fog in the stories of this war, as we should expect.
Including some mess-ups in Ben Gurion Airport of Ukrainian non-Jews asking for refuge, and being denied by officials on the ground. Then shock and demands for change from various ministers, and efforts to arrange some sloppy guarantees that non-Jewish refugees will leave when the war is over.
Jews refusing others’ pleas for protection? Horrendous. It’ll be dealt with, but reveals the lack of communication in an administrative hierarchy. How to assure decent decisions at the lowest levels? Difficult. Demands pressure, which is coming.
And how to satisfy Israeli officials about one’s Jewish roots in the mayhem that exists? It usually takes documents going back to Jewish roots. And who brings those when fleeing destruction?
How will it all end? And what about rebuilding Ukraine’s cities? And what about more than a million refugees?
It’s easy to ask the questions. Not so easy to answer them.
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Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D., is professor emeritus of political science at Hebrew University. He may be contacted via ira.sharkansky@sdjewishworld.com
This is a no-win situation for Israel or the Jews.
If Israel does not come out to help Ukraine, Biden, nominally pro-Israel at best, will have shade to more openly join with the anti-Israel left.
If they come out too strongly, Putin will ensure Israel pays a price.
Zelensky being Jewish..proves nothing. Easy to forget that Ukraine came out in favor of the Arab side in Israel’s existential conflicts. Easy to forget that Ukraine surpassed the Poles in their eagerness to help the Nazis during the Holocaust.
The U.N. Censor vote of Russia is a warning light. 25% of the vote was either anti-Censor or neutral. Among the neutral were China and India. By sheer numbers, a massive world population base is not supporting Ukraine.
Why is our media silent on the causes of the war and the shared responsibility of the West in it?
Agreed. Israel will try to placate Biden, while not damaging relations with Russia.