Moscow on Friday slammed Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, a week after Israel joined forces with other countries to suspend Russia from the UN Human Rights Council over its occupation of Ukraine.
A Russian Foreign Ministry report has accused Lapidet of being a “counter-Russian attack” with his comments after last week’s General Assembly vote, the second time a country has been stripped of its membership in the Council.
“Taking advantage of the situation around Ukraine, there is an attempt to divert the international community from one of the long unresolved conflicts between Palestine and Israel,” the ministry said.
The report criticized Israel for “illegal occupation and creeping into the Palestinian territories.” It also broke the siege of the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, preventing Israeli access to alleged Israeli terrorist groups.
The report alleges that “the longest occupation in post-war world history was carried out with the indirect cooperation of the leading Western nations and with the genuine support of the United States.”
It is unknown at this time what he will do after leaving the post.
At the time, a foreign ministry statement condemned Ukraine’s “unjustified invasion” and accused Russian forces of “killing innocent civilians.” The report cites no change in Israel’s position on the Human Rights Council, accusing Jerusalem of being pro – Israel, not mentioning its aggression against Russia or Ukraine.
Lapid or the Foreign Ministry did not respond to a request for comment.
Nadia Trupchaninov, 70, sits next to a plastic bag containing the body of her son Vadim Trupchaninov, 48, who was killed by Russian soldiers on April 12, 2022, in Pucha, March 30, on the outskirts of Kiev, Ukraine. (AP Photo / Rodrigo Abd)
Israel has avoided close ties with either side since Russian troops invaded Ukraine on February 24. It is one of the few countries that maintains relatively warm relations with both Ukraine, fellow Western democracies and Russia, which controls airspace over Syria. Israel is targeting the Iranian delegation.
However, in February the first UN Security Council convened against Moscow’s occupation of Ukraine. Israel has joined the West in condemning Russia in several UN resolutions after it annoyed the Biden administration by refusing to co-sponsor a Security Council resolution.
Jerusalem has also slowly moved towards the West’s position against Russia, although there is a responsible representation between Prime Minister Naphtali Bennett, who until recently sought to mediate and largely avoided criticizing Russia. Gave so much voice in his critique. Both condemned the massacre in Pucha, but only Lapidet claimed responsibility for Russia.
