Defense minister says Israel won’t supply weapons to Ukraine
Israel has been using its aerial defense systems during frequent conflicts with militants in the Gaza Strip and to guard its disputed borders with Syria and Lebanon.
Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz on Monday told his Ukrainian counterpart Oleksii Reznikov that Israel won’t provide weapons to Ukraine.
The two ministers talked over the phone and “held a positive discussion,” the Israeli defense ministry said in a statement.
Gantz said Israel will not provide weapons systems, citing “the operational limitations” faced by Israel.
However, Gantz offered to help Ukraine in developing an alert system. The ministers agreed “to conduct professional dialogue in order to assist Ukraine in the development of a civilian early warning system,” the ministry said.
Reznikov briefed Gantz on the developments of the crisis in Ukraine and Gantz expressed his “condolences regarding the tragic loss of life, and concern regarding the humanitarian crisis as a result of the war,” the ministry said.
Last week, Israel offered to help Ukraine develop air strike alert systems for civilians, rejecting Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba’s formal request to supply Ukraine with the Israeli anti-rocket Iron Dome and other weapon systems to counter Russia’s Iranian drone attacks.
Israel has been using its aerial defense systems during frequent conflicts with militants in the Gaza Strip and to guard its disputed borders with Syria and Lebanon.
