Israel raised Western eyebrows on Monday when it abstained from a UN General Assembly vote on a resolution demanding Russian reparations to Ukraine.

The vote easily passed by a margin of 94 votes in favor, 13 against and 74 abstentions.

But Israel stuck out like a sore thumb as the only Western nation to abstain.

Immediately commentators speculated that this was an act of diplomatic revenge after Ukraine last week voted in favor of a resolution to refer Israel’s “occupation” of Judea and Samaria to the International Court of Justice.

But there are other possible reasons, including:

• Israel remains wary of upsetting Moscow, given Russia’s continued military presence in Syria and burgeoning alliance with Iran.
• The Ukraine reparations resolution could set a precedent for the Palestinians to demand reparations from Israel.