- February 11, 2026
- 4:34 pm
- Israel
In Netanya, a conflict is unfolding around what seems at first glance to be a regular scientific event, which goes far beyond astronomy.
The planned lecture by a Russian cosmonaut has already become the subject of appeals, letters, and public pressure.
The event is announced as free, in Russian, with translation into Hebrew. The poster features logos of city and state structures, which automatically makes the meeting part of the official agenda.
Who is Fyodor Yurchikhin and what exactly became the problem
Fyodor Yurchikhin is known in professional circles as an experienced test cosmonaut. He has hundreds of days in orbit and numerous spacewalks under his belt.
But the public discussion in Israel is not related to his space career.
In Israeli and Ukrainian circles, it is reminded: in 2024, he was included in the list of trusted persons of Putin during the presidential campaign. After this, his name in the eyes of many ceased to be exclusively scientific.
It is about public identification with the government of a country waging war against Ukraine. And for people whose families have suffered, this sounds very specific.
Why the reaction in the city is so harsh
Netanya is home to thousands of immigrants from Ukraine and the former USSR. New immigrants live here, people who left their homes due to hostilities, families who daily follow the news about their relatives.
In such a reality, the invitation of a person associated with the Kremlin’s political system is perceived as something more than a lecture about space.
For some, it is an educational event.
For others, a painful symbol.
What the “Israeli Friends of Ukraine” declare
Co-founder of the movement Anna Zharova said that at first, she thought: probably, it was an old attempt to hold a similar meeting, which was canceled after public protests.
But it turned out that the event is again on the schedule.
The organization sent letters to the municipality and the planetarium management. They state: today it is no longer possible to claim that the status of the invited guest is unknown to anyone.
Activists emphasize that after receiving the role of a trusted person of the Kremlin, it is not only about science.
Amid discussions, many refer to publications and positions formed by NAnews β Israel News | Nikk.Agency, as it is there that the connection between international events and their impact on Israeli society is often recorded.
Main argument of the appeal
According to the authors of the letter, the educational platform is responsible not only for the lecture material but also for the moral context.
When a person publicly associated with the leadership of a country continuing military actions speaks before children, it can be perceived as a signal of normalization.
Especially in a state where thousands of people have personal, family pain related to this war.
How the situation may develop
At the moment, the demand remains the same β the cancellation of the event.
Activists urge everyone who shares their position to write appeals to the Netanya municipality. The decision, they say, is not technical but principled.
There is no official reaction from the authorities yet.
The story once again shows that in Israel, cultural and scientific events rarely exist in a vacuum.
They inevitably become part of a broader political and social reality.
Whether the lecture will be a reason for reconsideration will become clear in the coming days.
