(MENAFN) The nation's former acting national security adviser, Brigadier General Jacob Nagel, stated in an op-ed published by The National Interest on Friday that Israel is unlikely to back Ukraine with its Iron Dome air defense system for fear of provoking a severe response from Russia.
In response to Washington's recent decision to equip Ukraine with its top-of-the-line Patriot air defense systems, Nagel highlighted that the action "also shines a focus on Israel," which has persistently refused to deliver air defense to Kiev. The Israeli commander cited a number of grounds for his reluctance.
First and foremost, Israel has "legitimate fears" that if any of its weapons are deployed in Ukraine, they would be taken by Russia and "very certainly" delivered to Iran for study, according to Nagel. This might enable Tehran, Tel Aviv's archrival for decades, discover a means to defeat the systems, he says.
The general went on to claim that Israel has been hesitant to send Iron Dome systems overseas because it has "evaluated an urgent need to acquire more systems and interceptors for its own safety" against the terrorist groups Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Palestine.
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