Ukraine-bound weapons shipments will end up in Iran’s hands, former Israeli PM Netanyahu warns

10/20/2022 / By Ramon Tomey

Former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that weapons shipments bound for Ukraine will end up in the hands of Iran.

“On the question of weapons, there’s always a possibility – and this has happened time and again – that weapons that we supplied in one battlefield end up in Iranian hands, used against us,” he said during an interview with CNBC.

“In the Golan Heights, where we’re trying to prevent Iran from creating a second Lebanon front – a second terrorist front against us – we encounter Israeli-made weapons.”

The warning from Netanyahu, whose 15-year term as prime minister was the longest in Israel, came as a response to a request for military aid from Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Minister Dmytro Kuleba. Kuleba requested that the Jewish nation “urgently provide Ukraine with anti-aircraft systems and to start high-quality cooperation in obtaining appropriate technologies.”

“Iran is a red line for Israel, and after Iran has directly, in fact, become complicit in the crime of aggression against Ukraine, I think anyone in Israel who still has any hesitation about whether or not to help Ukraine, he must dispel these hesitations,” Kuleba said.

“Today, without exaggeration, the same drones that destroy Ukraine are aimed at Israel. I think that this says it all, and I think that this should be the starting point for the development of Israeli policy.”

The Ukrainian foreign minister found an ally in Israeli Diaspora Affairs Minister Nachman Shai. “There is no longer any doubt where Israel should stand in this bloody conflict,” Shai said.

The diaspora affairs minister’s comments caused a stir in Russia, prompting Shai to respond to criticism.

“The Russian bear is not angry at Turkey that provides drones to Ukraine, nor at other countries outside of Europe that help,” he told Army Radio. “But as soon as [incumbent Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid] issued a severe condemnation, then [it] woke up.”

In spite of this, Shai reiterated that “Ukrainian citizens are entitled to receive protection.”

Humanitarian aid and asylum are enough, says Netanyahu

Netanyahu warned that such lines of thinking have created world wars in the past. The opposition leader in the Knesset – Israel’s parliament – added that he believes the Russia-Ukraine war’s greatest danger is that it expands into a global conflict involving nuclear weapons. Thus, he called for cooler heads to avoid a World War III scenario.

“I don’t think it makes that much difference if it’s tactical nuclear weapons or strategic nuclear weapons; that threshold has not been crossed for 77 years,” he said. “I think what is required right now is a combination of firmness and prudence to make sure that this conflict ends and certainly doesn’t spread.”

The former Israeli leader said in the same interview that Jerusalem’s policy toward the Russia-Ukraine war was “prudent,” citing the country’s acceptance of refugees and the provision of humanitarian aid.

According to the Jerusalem Post, Netanyahu blasted the current Lapid government back in July for its handling of diplomatic relations amid the conflict. He dubbed the situation a “dangerous crisis in relations between Russia and Israel.”

The opposition leader claimed that prior to Lapid’s government, Israel had been leading a “considered, balanced and responsible relationship with Russia.” Netanyahu attributed this to “a combination of amateurism, irresponsibility and arrogance.” He also urged Lapid and Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz to “stop the shouting.”

Dmitry Medvedev, former Russian president, warned that Israel providing weapons to Kyiv would be a “very reckless move” that would “destroy government relations” between Israel and Russia. (Related: Israel refuses to sell Pegasus cyberweapon to Ukraine and Estonia over concerns of harming relationship with Russia.)

Head over to WWIII.news for more stories about Israel’s role in the Russia-Ukraine war.

Watch documentary filmmaker Gonzalo Lira talk about Israel provoking Russia in the video below.

This video is from The Prisoner channel on Brighteon.com.