The diplomatic spat between Kyiv and Jerusalem over the Russian vessel wanting to unload stolen grain from occupied Ukrainian territories in Israel appears to have reached a conclusion this morning. The Panama-flagged Panormitis, which was carrying more than 6,200 tons of wheat and 19,000 tons of barley, arrived at the port of Haifa early this week. Today, after days of diplomatic sparring, its Israeli importer Zenziper reportedly turned the vessel away. Israel’s Grain Importers Association added in a statement: ‘The Russian supplier of the wheat cargo will have to find another destination at which to unload it.’

The Panormitis is not the only Russian vessel carrying illegal grain to have docked in Israel in recent weeks. Earlier this month, the Abinsk ship unloaded 44,000 tons of wheat looted from Ukrainian territories at Haifa. Israeli authorities responded to Kyiv’s request to seize the ship only after it had sailed away, taking with it the proceeds for Vladimir Putin’s bungled war effort. When Kyiv tracked a second ship – the Panormitis – approaching Israeli shores this week, Ukrainian officials called for the ship to be seized before it could unload its cargo and........

© The Spectator