Let Whoever Wins Step Up Cooperation with Kyiv
Today Israel votes, and many in Ukraine are watching closely.
I’ve written many blogs on why Kyiv and Jerusalem should enhance cooperation, especially given that we share a common enemy: Tehran. Iran has supplied Russia with the drones used to attack Ukrainian cities while supporting the groups threatening Israel. So trust me when I say that I’m still quite surprised that so little appears to be happening in this respect. Especially when it comes to countering disinformation.
Ukraine has spent years documenting how Russian propaganda works: fabricated news stories, impersonated media outlets, accounts pretending to be concerned locals. Israel knows what it means to have its citizens demonized online. Comparing those networks, their methods and the narratives they circulate would be a fairly obvious place to start.
And look at the discussion after Ukraine struck Yandex’s data centers. People reported fewer hostile accounts and less “Free Palestine” content, with Netanyahu himself citing a decline in Russian online activity targeting Israel during a presentation of his security doctrine.
So, what exactly are we waiting for?
Especially since few need reminding of the antisemitism inside Russia itself. In October 2023, a mob stormed Makhachkala airport looking for Jewish passengers arriving from Tel Aviv. Putin’s response included blaming Ukraine and the West, without providing evidence. Yeah, call me surprised.
“Oh, but Russia will eventually calm down and leave everyone alone.”
Silly. Russia will not leave everyone alone simply because everyone politely avoids upsetting it.
Their entire statehood rests on the need to sow distrust and interfere in the affairs of others. Because let’s be realistic: if they didn’t, they’d have to focus on the quality of life not just in Moscow and St. Petersburg, but also in less glamorous places like Buryatia. Then they’d have to ask themselves how a country with such resources still has people living in houses without indoor toilets or adequate heating.
Putin doesn’t like answering questions like that. He’s got bigger fish to fry, as in finding ways to exploit conflicts elsewhere, undermine Western influence and maintain relationships with actors threatening Israel. That’s why Moscow hosted a Hamas delegation in October 2023, less than three weeks after the massacre. Russia said the talks concerned hostage releases and evacuations; Hamas used the visit to praise Putin’s position.
Naturally, I don’t deny Jerusalem’s need, like that of any capital, to protect its citizens and avoid unnecessary risks. Israel has its own security calculations, and Ukrainians should understand that better than most.
But caution needs to account for the risks of doing too little, too.
Ukraine has practical experience confronting Iranian-designed drones and Russian influence operations. Israel has technologies and expertise Ukraine urgently needs. There is room for cooperation in detection, interception, training, intelligence analysis and exposing coordinated disinformation. It does not all have to wait for agreement on the most politically sensitive weapons transfer.
My candid opinion remains that Israel would benefit greatly from stepping up cooperation with Kyiv. The next government should look at what both countries can actually build, share and protect together.
A weakened Russia would have fewer resources to attack Ukraine, support Iran and interfere elsewhere. That is in the interest of virtually everyone, perhaps even Russians themselves, who need to mind their own business first and foremost.
