The US anticipates that Israel could be swayed to change its position on Ukraine and offer "lethal aid" to Kyiv, according to a leaked Pentagon document seen by American media. The document, titled "Israel: Pathways to Providing Lethal Aid to Ukraine," is part of a series of Pentagon documents that were shared on various social media platforms, seemingly outlining US and NATO assistance to Ukraine.
CNN first reported on the document, which suggests that increased US pressure or a perceived deterioration in Israel's relationship with Russia might prompt Jerusalem to consider providing lethal aid to Ukraine. Thus far, Israel has refrained from supplying weapons to Ukraine following Russia's invasion in February 2022, mainly due to its strategic interest in maintaining freedom of operations in Syria, where Russian forces control most of the airspace.
The document, dated February 28, outlines four possible scenarios in which Israel might supply defensive and offensive military equipment to Ukraine. The New York Times reported that the most plausible path would involve Israel adopting the "Turkish model," in which Israel would sell missile defense systems through a third party while publicly advocating for a peaceful resolution to the conflict and offering mediation services.
According to the Times, the document also mentioned that an increase in Russian arms and technology supplies to Iran, US pressure on Israel to halt Iran's nuclear program, or Russian forces causing Israeli casualties by targeting IAF warplanes in Syria could lead to a change in Israel's stance.
In recent news, Israel's position has shifted slightly, as it reportedly authorized the sale of defensive military equipment to Kyiv for the first time. The Walla news site reported that Jerusalem approved export licenses for two Israeli companies to sell electronic warfare systems capable of defending against drone attacks.
However, Israeli officials insisted that the approval of export licenses did not indicate a policy change, as the systems are defensive and do not involve live fire that could harm Russian soldiers.
The US has been urging Israel to increase its support, including supplying weapons to Kyiv. Meanwhile, Russia warned Israel against providing weapons to Ukraine in early February. Despite these developments, Israel's refusal to send weapons has contributed to the perception that it has adopted a neutral stance on the war.
As the conflict progresses, Israel has emphasized its support for Ukraine, providing over $22.5 million in humanitarian aid and establishing a field hospital to treat injured Ukrainians. In February, Israel voted alongside 140 other countries for a UN General Assembly resolution drafted by Kyiv calling for Russia to withdraw its forces from Ukraine.
