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Transcript/ScriptUSAGM SHARE
(PLAYBOOK SLUG: ISRAEL RUSSIA UKRAINE (TV)
HEADLINE: Israel Launches Effort to Mediate between Russia, Ukraine
TEASER: Making use of Israel’s good ties to both Moscow and Kyiv, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett engages with both sides in bid to stop hostilities.
PUBLISHED AT: Thursday, 3/10/2022 at
BYLINE: Linda Gradstein
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Jerusalem
VIDEOGRAPHER: Ricki Rosen, Agency, Courtesy
PRODUCER: Jon Spier
SCRIPT EDITORS: LR, MAS
VIDEO SOURCES: VOA, AFP, Other (see courtesies)
PLATFORMS: WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO _x_
TRT: 2:43
VID APPROVED BY: BR
TYPE: TVPKG
UPDATES: On Web page, please post camera credit for Ricki Rosen))
((INTRO))
[[Israel has emerged as a mediator between Russia and Ukraine. Israel’s Prime Minister Naftali Bennett is the only world leader who has traveled to Russia to meet with President Vladimir Putin since the assault began, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy this week thanked Bennett for his mediation efforts. Linda Gradstein and Ricki Rosen report for VOA from Jerusalem.]]
((Mandatory cg: Twitter))
((NARRATOR))
Israel’s Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has been running up quite a phone bill lately, conversing with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in an attempt to mediate a cease-fire in Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Bennett was the only world leader to visit Putin in Moscow this week, saying Israel has a moral obligation to do what it can to mediate. He said the attempt to save human lives justified violating the Jewish restriction against travelling on the Sabbath.
((Naftali Bennett, Israeli Prime Minister (Male (in English)))
((Mandatory cg: Israel Government Press Office))
“It’s important to understand that if world leaders don’t act quickly, it can get much worse. I’m talking about untold loss of life, total destruction of Ukraine, millions of refugees and it’s not too late. It’s the responsibility of the major players in the world to act rapidly to get the two sides out of the battlefield and to the negotiating table.”
((NARRATOR))
Some experts say Israel is in a good position to mediate.
((RADIO VERSION: That’s according to Israeli analysts like Jonathan Dekel-Chen, a Russia analyst at Hebrew University.))
((Jonathan Dekel-Chen, Hebrew University - Male English VOA))
((Mandatory cg: Zoom))
“Israel does inhabit a unique space right now in the context of this conflict inasmuch as we still, unless something goes sideways, we still have or maintain correct relations with both Ukraine and Russia and are considered to have integrity by both.”
((NARRATOR))
But other Israeli analysts say Russian military might in the Middle East weighs heavily against Israel’s strategic interests.
((RADIO VERSION: That is the view of Chuck Freilich, a former Israeli Deputy National Security Advisor.))
((Chuck Freilich, Former Israeli Deputy National Security Advisor - Male (in English), VOA))
((Mandatory cg: Zoom))
“A mediator should normally be a side that can put some pressure on the two negotiating parties to get them to make some concessions. Israel certainly does not have that capability and even more, Israel is in many ways even subject to Russian policy in the region. For example, if they decide to turn on their S-400 anti-aircraft systems that are place in Syria, they can in effect just about shut down the Israeli air force and of course they can play a very harmful role from Israel’s perspective in the nuclear negotiations with Iran.”
((NARRATOR))
Israel has already accepted thousands of Jewish immigrants from Ukraine and is prepared to absorb as many as 100-thousand people with Jewish family backgrounds.
In addition, about 20 thousand non-Jewish Ukrainians who were already in Israel before the war began will be allowed to stay, and an additional five thousand will be granted refugee visas to come to Israel.
((Linda Gradstein, for VOA News, Jerusalem))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateMarch 10, 2022 08:52 EST
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
