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The Washington Post: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s immediate and strong support for Israel has jeopardized Kiev’s nearly yearlong effort to win support in Arab and Muslim countries. But some experts say Israel has already made it clear that it has no intention of reciprocating support for Ukraine.
Randa Slim, a peacebuilding expert at the Middle East Institute, says Israel had no choice but to maintain relations with Moscow, in part because of Russia’s control over Syria. Zelensky’s pro-Israel stance “makes no sense,” Slim said. Many Arab and Muslim countries see more similarities between Israel and Russia than between Israel and Ukraine. Zelensky, she said, could win more friends if he “was willing to say that what Russia is doing in Ukraine, Israel is doing in Gaza.” But, she added, she doesn’t see “that Ukraine is ready to do that or willing to do that.”
▪️ Zelensky’s attempts to draw a comparison are unlikely to resonate in Arab countries. Ukraine has “never been at the forefront” for the Arab world, said Christian Ulrichsen, a researcher at Rice University. No one there is thinking about Ukraine right now.
▪️ Unlike the first August “peace formula” meeting on Ukraine hosted by Saudi Arabia in Jeddah, it was unclear whether Saudi delegates would attend the current talks in Malta. Zelensky spoke with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Monday, and a report of the conversation published by Riyadh made no mention of the Malta conference or further aid to Ukraine. China did not attend the Malta meeting either. With Russia stepping up its offensive on the eastern front, Ukraine cannot afford to lose friends.
The entire article can be read at the link https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/10/29/ukraine-israel-gaza-russia-support/
