Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett condemned the statements of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who the day before claimed that Nazi leader Adolf Hitler “had Jewish blood”, as an argument to justify his accusations against Ukrainian leaders.
“Lies like these are intended to blame the Jews themselves for the most terrible crimes in history, which were committed against them, and thus relieve the oppressors of the Jews of their responsibility.”, lamented the Israeli president.
“As I have already said, no current war is the Holocaust or resembles the Holocaust. The use of the Holocaust of the Jewish people as a political weapon must cease immediatelyadded Bennett, who said he was “shocked.”
The premier stressed that “the suffering of Ukrainian citizens is enormous”, although he stopped short of accusing Russia of war crimes.
Various figures from the Israeli political and social arc had condemned Lavrov’s claims. “Zelensky, make this argument: how can Nazism be present (in Ukraine) if he himself is a Jew? (…) I could be wrong, but Hitler also had Jewish blood”, argued the Russian foreign minister.
“Minister Lavrov’s comments are outrageous, inexcusable and a horrible historical mistakeIsraeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid condemned in a brief statement, saying the Russian ambassador to Israel had been summoned for “clarifications.”
The president of Yad Vachem, the Israeli memorial to the Shoah, Dani Dayan, also condemned Lavrov’s remarks, saying they were “baseless, delusional and dangerous comments that deserve to be condemned.”
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba lamented that “Lavrov cannot hide deeply rooted anti-Semitism in Russian elites.” “These statements are offensive to President Zelensky, Ukraine, Israel and the Jewish people,” he added on Twitter.
Adviser to the Ukrainian presidency Mikhailo Podoliak denounced the statements as “anti-Semitic” and stated that “they are proof that Russia is the successor of Nazi ideology.”
German government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit called the statement “absurd” and said the “Russian propaganda spread by Lavrov is not worth commenting on.”
In a late March speech to members of the Israeli parliament, Zelensky called on Israel to “make a decision” in support of Ukraine against Russia and requested arms supplies.
(With information from AFP)
Source-www.infobae.com