German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was the real instigator of the Ukraine-Russia mediation effort undertaken by Prime Minister Naftali Bennett last week, according to sources close to the prime minister. “It all started with a long one-on-one meeting between the chancellor and the prime minister,” a senior diplomatic source in Jerusalem told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity. “Scholz complained to Bennett that although Europe was experiencing one of the toughest wars in decades, and despite the explosive potential of a speedy deterioration, there are no mediators who will try to understand both sides and meet them to map out their differences and try to lower the flames.”

The newly installed chancellor made a lightning visit to Israel March 3 and his chemistry with Bennett was immediately obvious. Their meeting resulted in the mediation idea, according to the prime minister’s aides. After analyzing the situation between Russia and Ukraine, both men concluded that of all the leaders in the world, Bennett had the required equal access to both sides as well as to both opposing camps. Bennett has been building up his credibility with Russian President Vladimir Putin since taking office last year. Israel also enjoys a special relationship with Ukraine’s Jewish President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. What's more, Israel is a close US ally and also enjoys warm ties with Europe, making Bennett the apparent perfect mediator on all fronts.

Following his meeting with Scholz, Bennett convened a speedy consultation with his closest aides, including his highly regarded national security adviser Eyal Hulata, a former senior Mossad official and his influential foreign policy adviser Shimrit Meir. The team decided to try to “do something.” They agreed that if Bennett’s efforts would not help, they would not hurt, either. Such an endeavor, according to his aides’ assessment, would not expose Bennett to serious risks. On the contrary, a mediation initiative would position him as a leader of international stature and justify Israel’s efforts to avoid alienating Putin by adopting a low-key presence within the Western democratic camp openly allied with Ukraine.

Not everyone on the prime minister’s staff was keen on the idea. His veteran right-wing associates, who have stuck with him throughout the vicissitudes of his political career, believe Bennett’s high-profile involvement in the European conflict is unnecessary and risky. For now, his professional diplomacy and security aides like Hulata and Meir have the upper hand and have proven justified, so far, by the overall positive balance of Bennett’s mission. Everyone is talking about him. The media tracking operation in the prime minister’s office reported March 9 that some 14,000 news reports about Bennett’s diplomacy had been logged around the world. Not bad for a complete unknown stepping into the international arena where his predecessor, former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu enjoyed global recognition.