Netanyahu: 'Ukraine-Bound Weapons Will End Up In Iran's Hands'

Benjamin Netanyahu warns against sending weapons to Ukraine

Kevin Hughes

 Former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned against sending weapons to Ukraine as they could easily end up in the hands of the Iranians.

“On the question of weapons, there’s always a possibility, and this has happened time and again, that weapons that we supplied in one battlefield end up in Iranian hands used against us,” he said.

“In the Golan Heights, where we’re trying to prevent Iran from creating a second Lebanon front, a second terrorist front against us, we encounter Israeli-made weapons.” (Related: Ukraine-bound weapons shipments will end up in Iran’s hands, former Israeli PM Netanyahu warns.)

His warning came after Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba asked Israel for military aid by means of advanced air defense systems that they can use against Russia.

“Ukraine will send an official note to the government of Israel with a request to urgently provide Ukraine with anti-aircraft systems and to start high-quality cooperation in obtaining appropriate technologies for Ukraine,” said Kuleba.

“Iran is a red line for Israel. And after Iran has directly become complicit in the crime of aggression against Ukraine, I think anyone in Israel who still has any hesitation about whether or not to help Ukraine, must dispel these hesitations.”

Some Israeli politicians apparently agree with Kuleba, saying that Israel should aid Ukraine since Iran is allegedly supporting Russia. An Israeli minister recently called for Jerusalem to provide military aid to Ukraine, although there has been no official announcement from Israel about sending military aid.

Diaspora Minister Nachman Shai said there is no longer any doubt where Israel should stand in the Ukraine conflict with Iran transferring ballistic missiles to Russia. He added that the time has come for Israel to send military aid to Ukraine just as the U.S. and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) countries have done.

Netanyahu said this is the kind of logic that led to world wars in the past. He thinks constraint is required to avoid World War III.

“I don’t think it makes that much difference if it’s tactical nuclear weapons or strategic nuclear weapons – that threshold has not been crossed for 77 years. And I think what is required right now is a combination of firmness and prudence to make sure that this conflict ends and certainly doesn’t spread,” Netanyahu said.

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