BICOM

What happened: In a surprising move, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett flew in secret to Moscow on Saturday to become the first western leader to meet President Vladimir Putin since the invasion of Ukraine.

• Bennett, accompanied by his senior advisers and Minister Ze’ev Elkin met with Putin for three hours.
• Following the meeting, Bennett phoned Ukrainian President Zelensky from the airport to update him.
• He then phoned French President Macron, before he flew onto Berlin, where he had a late night meeting with German Chancellor Scholz before returning to Israel.
• Reflecting on the visit he told the cabinet meeting yesterday, “even if the chance is not great, as soon as there is even a small opening, and we have access to all sides and the capability, I see this as our moral obligation to make every effort.”
• Bennett did not reveal details of their conversation, but reassured that he went there “to assist the dialogue between all of the sides, of course with the blessing and encouragement of all players.”
• Again yesterday Bennett spoke on the phone with both Putin and Zelensky.

Context: This is the first time an Israeli leader has attempted to mediate an international crisis.

• Bennett and Elkin, both Orthodox Jews deemed the trip important enough to travel on the Sabbath. In Judaism breaking the laws of Sabbath is permitted only in order to save lives.
• Bennett’s shuttle diplomacy is being coordinated with Germany, France and the US. It is thought Bennett developed his plan when he met German Chancellor Scholz in Israel last week. On Friday Bennett updated US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan. According to the Israeli account, he received backing from the US, though they are sceptical if he has traction to influence Putin.
• The inclusion of Minister Elkin is significant. Elkin has met Putin on numerous occasions, when he played a similar role as interpreter in meetings between former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Putin.
• As Ben Caspit wrote in Ma’ariv, “Elkin is much more than a mere interpreter. If there’s anyone who can compose the political-psychological profile of Vladimir Putin for Western intelligence agencies, it’s Elkin. Few understand Putin better than he does. He has spent dozens of hours and heard him speak in his own language, without any need for a translator. He has heard the nuances, has observed his body language and has clocked his behaviour patterns, his reactions, his crisis management, his strengths and his weaknesses.”
• According to Israeli media accounts, Putin was sharp and rational. Channel 13 news quoted a source saying that Putin was “not conspiracy theorising or irrational, nor is he suffering from rage attacks.”
• In parallel to the diplomatic efforts, Israel is continuing to receive Ukrainian refugees. According to Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked, “Israel is the western country without a land border with Ukraine that has absorbed the most Ukrainians per capita since the outbreak of fighting.” So far, 2,034 Ukrainian nationals have entered Israel.

Looking ahead: Foreign Minister Yair Lapid will travel to Riga today and meet US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. They will discuss the war in Ukraine and the Iranian nuclear talks.

• Later this week, Israel’s Health Ministry is sending a medical team to Ukraine to set up a field hospital. The hospital will include emergency room services, maternity wards and first aid clinics.
• Israel is also continuing to supply humanitarian aid including six large generators to the hospital in Lviv.
• According to Interior Ministry projected data, 15,000 Ukrainians could arrive in Israel by the end of the month.