Israel avoids imposing sanctions and harsh criticism of Russia.
US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland is calling on Israel to join Western sanctions on Russian oligarchs to punish the Kremlin for its invasion of Ukraine.
According to The Times of Israel, she told the Israeli channel Channel 12.
US State Department official urged Israel not to take “dirty money” from Russia.
“You must not be the last refuge for Putin's dirty money fueling wars. Anything Israel can do will be welcomed by the Ukrainians and the international coalition in support of Ukraine,” she said.
Victoria Nuland stressed that the US wants every democracy around the world to join the financial and export sanctions imposed on the Putin regime.
“We must shrink the regime, we must deny him the income he needs,” she said.
מיוחד: תת שר החוץ של ארצות הברית ויקטוריה נולנד אומרת לנו שארה”ב מצפה מישראל להצטרף לסנקציות נגד רוסיה: ⁰”אתם לא רוצים להפוך למקלט האחרון לכסף מלוכלך שמתדלק את המלחמה של פוטין”⁰הראיון המלא, גם על מאמצי התיווך הישראלים ואיראן מיד באולפן שישי @N12News pic.twitter.com/aS1mlt04D0
— יונה לייבזון yuna leibzon (@YunaLeibzon) March 11, 2022
Despite the fact that Western countries and companies have imposed tough sanctions against the Russian economy, its oligarchs and some officials, including President Putin, since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Israel has not joined the joint effort.
The country avoids sanctions or harsh criticism against Russia and President Vladimir Putin as it seeks to balance its warm ties with both Kiev and Moscow.
In particular, no measures were taken in Israel against the Russian-Israeli billionaire Roman Abramovich, who fell under the sanctions of Great Britain and Canada.
It is also reported that in recent days a number of private aircraft have arrived from Russia to Israel, although most Western countries have closed airspace for air transport from the Russian Federation.
Recall that Canada recently imposed new sanctions against more than three dozen military structures in Russia and five people close to President Vladimir Putin, including oligarch Roman Abramovich.
