PM Bennett Meets With Putin On Shabbos at The Kremlin

By Hana Levi Julian – Jewishpress.com

Israel’s Prime Minister Naftali Bennett flew to Moscow on Shabbos for urgent talks about the war in Ukraine, according to the prime minister’s office.

Although both he and Housing and Construction Minister Ze’ev Elkin — who went along to assist with translation — are observant Jews, and travel is forbidden on the Sabbath according to Torah law, the Torah permits such a violation in cases where the saving of life is involved. No previous prime minister, even secular, had ever traveled on Shabbos before.

The delegation made the trip in a private plane usually used by Israel’s international intelligence agency, the Mossad.

Both the United States and Ukraine were notified ahead of Bennet’s trip.

The prime minister was also accompanied by Dr. Eyal Hulata, head of Israel’s National Security Council, political adviser Shimrit Meir and Bennett’s spokesperson Matan Sidi.

Bennett has repeatedly offered to mediate between Russia and Ukraine, including during his meeting with Putin in Sochi last October, but Putin has rejected the offers.

Despite his rejection of mediation, Russia’s president said he would maintain contact with Israel over the situation.

The prime minister’s office has refused to comment on the meeting, saying the issue is “particularly sensitive.”

The meeting lasted about 3 hours, ending on Motzei Shabbos at about 8 p.m, and the two discussed the war in Ukraine, including the situation of Jewish communities and Israelis in the country.

A substantial percentage of the Israeli population is comprised of Russian and Ukrainian Jewish immigrants.

Following the meeting, Bennett flew to Berlin to meet with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

The prime minister also spoke with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky following his meeting with Putin, Israeli officials confirmed to JewishPress.com. The content of their conversation was not released.