Israel says it won’t be a route for Russia to circumvent sanctions

 Israel’s top diplomat said on Monday that Russians won’t be allowed to use the country to circumvent international sanctions.

Amid criticism that Israel was not doing enough to support Ukraine, Foreign Minister Yair Lapid said that “Israel will not be a route to bypass sanctions imposed on Russia by the United States and other Western countries.”

Speaking at a visit to Slovakia, he said the foreign ministry was in contact with other ministries and airport authorities to coordinate measures against Russians.

Israeli media reported after the Russian attack on Ukraine that the country was avoiding imposing sanctions against oligarchs.

 According to the report, more than a dozen private jets from Russia have landed in Israel in recent weeks.

U.S. Secretary of State,  Victoria Nuland had urged Israel to join sanctions against Russia.

She said it was not in Israel’s interest to become “the last haven for dirty money that’s fueling Putin’s wars.”

Israel has traditionally had good relations with both Russia and Ukraine and Prime Minister Naftali Bennett is involved in mediation efforts.