Israel is by far the most favored US ally in the Middle East, if not the world. Whenever Israel has needed a great power to come to its rescue – such as in the October 1973 war – it has relied not on Russia but on the United States. Its dependence on US support is overwhelming, and its access to the most advanced US weaponry is unequaled, even among America’s NATO allies.

Yet Israel has refused to criticize Russia publicly over its brutal invasion of Ukraine or to complement humanitarian assistance with defensive materiel.

With Russian attacks on Ukrainian civilians becoming more appalling by the day, the Israeli government’s attempt to straddle the fence has become untenable and indefensible.