(March 21, 2022 / JNS) In his video tackle to the Israeli Knesset on Sunday night, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked Israel for its help however criticized Israel for not taking a more durable stance towards Russia. Nevertheless, it was his comparability of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to the Holocaust that roused the ire of Israeli lawmakers on each side of the aisle.
The Kremlin is “utilizing the terminology of the Nazi Social gathering,” stated Zelensky. “In Russia, they’re utilizing these similar phrases—‘remaining resolution’—solely now it’s directed at us, the Ukrainian drawback.”
Whereas some, together with Israeli Overseas Minister Yair Lapid, praised Zelensky’s 10-minute speech, others, together with Knesset members Yoaz Hendel, Michal Woldiger, Efrat Rayten, Yuval Steinitz and Simcha Rothman, publicly expressed their dissatisfaction.
Hendel of the New Hope Social gathering, who serves as communications minister, stated that whereas he admires Zelensky, “It’s unattainable to rewrite the horrible historical past of the Holocaust.” If the speech had been made in additional regular instances, stated Steinitz of Likud, individuals “would say that it borders on Holocaust denial.”
Rothman of the Spiritual Zionism get together took situation with Zelensky’s declare that Ukrainians had helped Jews throughout the Holocaust.
“The Ukrainians made their alternative 80 years in the past. We saved Jews and due to this fact there are amongst us ‘Righteous Among the many Nations,’ ” Zelensky stated in his speech.
Referring to the 1.5 million Jews killed by the Nazis in Ukraine, usually with the assistance of native collaborators, Rothman tweeted: “Zelensky requested us to behave towards the Ukrainians as they behaved towards us 80 years in the past. Sorry, it appears to me we’ll be compelled to reject his request.”
‘A tragedy for Ukrainians, for Jews, for Europe, for the world’
Zelensky’s tone—defiant, emotional, reproving—was constant along with his addresses to different nationwide our bodies, every speech tailor-made to strike a nationwide nerve. Earlier than the British parliament, for instance, he talked of World Conflict II and Shakespeare. Earlier than the U.S. Congress, it was Pearl Harbor and 9/11. He acquired standing ovations in each circumstances. However regardless of being Jewish, Zelensky was much less profitable in his tackle to the Knesset.
“I need you to consider this date. Concerning the twenty fourth of February. Concerning the starting of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. This present day, Feb. 24, has twice gone down in historical past, and each instances as a tragedy. A tragedy for Ukrainians, for Jews, for Europe, for the world,” he stated.
“On Feb. 24 in 1920, the Nationwide Socialist Employees’ Social gathering of Germany was based … 102 years later, on Feb. 24, a prison order was issued to launch a full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine.
He additionally underscored how Russian missiles had “hit Kyiv, Babyn Yar,” in addition to town of Uman, the burial place of Rabbi Nachman of Bratslav, a well-liked pilgrimage web site for Chassidic Jews.
All through his tackle, Zelensky drew comparisons between Ukraine and Israel, noting that whereas the 2 states exist “below completely totally different situations,” the risk they face from their enemies is one and the identical: “The whole destruction of our individuals, our state, our tradition, even our names.” Quoting Israel’s fourth prime minister, Golda Meir, who was born in Kyiv, he stated: “We need to dwell however our neighbors need to see us lifeless. It doesn’t give us a lot room for compromise.”
Zelensky concluded his speech by tacitly criticizing Israel for not offering extra entry permits for refugees. Israel had initially restricted the variety of Ukrainian refugees to 25,000; that included 20,000 who had been already residing illegally within the nation. Beneath public and political stress, Israel elevated the quantity to those that had a member of the family already in Israel. Greater than 10,000 Ukrainian refugees have since entered the nation.
He additionally chastised Israel for not offering Ukraine with extra army assist, such because the Iron Dome anti-missile system, and for not pressuring Russian companies. “It’s as much as you to provide solutions to those questions, and afterwards, to dwell with these solutions,” he stated.
Sensing from the post-speech response that he could have gone too far, Zelensky, in a video publish to his social media feed in a while Sunday, softened his feedback, saying, “After all, Israel has its pursuits, technique to guard its residents. We perceive all of it.”
“The prime minister of Israel, Mr. [Naftali] Bennett, is looking for a approach of holding talks. And we’re grateful for this. We’re grateful for his efforts, in order that in the end, we’ll start to have talks with Russia, probably in Jerusalem,” he added.
Nevertheless, Zelensky didn’t tackle the criticism of his Holocaust comparisons.
Protesters in Tel Aviv maintain up indicators evaluating Russian President Vladimir Putin to Adolf Hitler, March 20, 2022. Photograph by David Isaac.
‘Israel is doing what it’s in a position to do’
The Ukrainian prime minister was not alone in making such comparisons. His speech, which was televised, was additionally projected onto Tel Aviv’s Habima Theater, the location of a pro-Ukraine protest attended by roughly a thousand individuals, in line with estimates. On the demonstration, many banners and indicators equated Russian President Vladimir Putin with Nazi chief Adolph Hitler.
Nevertheless, not all these on the protest agreed with such comparisons. One demonstrator, Vyktor, informed JNS that they had been off base.
“Then, it was the destruction of the Jewish individuals. Right here, no. Putin isn’t towards the Ukrainians. Putin is towards an impartial Ukrainian state that left the Soviet Union,” he stated. “I perceive what Zelensky was making an attempt to do. He wished to enchantment to the nation’s feelings. Nevertheless it was hitting beneath the belt.”
Vyktor, who was born in Ukraine and moved to Israel 30 years in the past, stated he was on the demonstration to help Ukraine solely as a result of Russia was the aggressor. “If it had been Ukraine which attacked Russia, I’d be right here supporting Russia,” he stated.
He additionally took situation with Zelensky’s demand for weapons. Israel is in a “delicate place” provided that Russia has put in itself in Syria, he stated. Russians may “shut down the skies” over Syria, one thing which he stated would create issues for Israel, which seeks to forestall Iran from gaining a foothold within the space.
“Zelensky is aware of this full properly. But nonetheless, he says Israel should give him weapons. It’s not honest. Israel is donating an enormous quantity of humanitarian assist to Ukraine. It’s constructing a discipline hospital,” stated Vyktor.
Most of these JNS spoke to on the demonstration had a private stake within the conflict’s end result.
Kiril, who got here to Israel 5 years in the past from Konotop, a metropolis about 30 kilometers (18 miles) from the Russian border, informed JNS that his mom, who’s 71, is trapped there.
Kiril, who immigrated to Israel from Konotop, Ukraine, 5 years in the past, participates in a pro-Ukraine rally in Tel Aviv on March 20, 2022. Photograph by David Isaac.
“The scenario could be very troublesome,” he stated. “Already for 2 weeks, persons are with out electrical energy, with out gasoline, with out meals, with out water. It’s minus-eight levels Celsius exterior.”
“It’s unattainable to take a seat quietly. Whoever does so agrees with Putin. That’s how I see it,” he stated, including that he sends contributions to Ukraine’s army and to his mates within the nation.
Lena and Paulina, cousins who left Ukraine for Israel 28 years in the past, got here to the protest as a result of, they stated, Ukraine was a good looking nation with beautiful individuals. They’d grown up in Kherson, a metropolis that has fallen to the Russians and now suffers acute shortages. They stated that they had many mates nonetheless within the nation.
“I’m not a politician. It’s heart-breaking, what’s occurring to ladies, kids,” stated Paulina.
Vera, 26, who was serving to maintain up a big Ukrainian flag, made aliyah to Israel three years in the past together with her dad and mom and youthful sister. She stated there have been relations who had remained behind however who had happily managed to flee to Germany. She grew up in Kharkiv.
“It’s onerous to name it a metropolis anymore as a result of they destroyed all the pieces there,” she stated. “It’s my historical past there. My childhood.”
Requested whether or not she thought Israel was doing sufficient for Ukraine, she stated, “Israel is doing what it’s in a position to do.”
Anna got here to help Ukraine at a rally in Tel Aviv, regardless that she hails from Moscow, March 20, 2022. Photograph by David Isaac.
Anna got here to help Ukraine regardless that she hails from Moscow. “In Russia, a phase does perceive and help Ukraine, however they’re a little bit terrified of going out and protesting. There are a lot of, many arrests,” she stated.
As as to whether Israel ought to do extra, Anna agreed that Israel has its personal issues, noting Russia’s presence in Syria. “If we supplied weapons and the Iron Dome to Ukraine, it may create issues for us,” she stated previous to Zelensky’s speech.
Stanislav, Rina and their son Alex, all of whom made aliyah in 1991, took Zelensky’s facet. Stanislav carried an indication that learn, “Whose facet is Israel on?”
“It’s like Zelensky stated, you’ll be able to’t mediate between good and evil,” Stanislav informed JNS after the Ukrainian president’s speak. “Our state should select the great facet. The facet of peace and of all Western nations. We aren’t doing sufficient as a result of many nations are aiding Ukraine rather more than we’re and that places us in a really uncomfortable place. We may assist rather more, particularly on the army facet. We must always give them defensive weapons.”
Rina stated that her mom, 84, was someplace within the hard-hit metropolis of Mariupol.
“A hostage for 30 days, she doesn’t have meals, gasoline, electrical energy. We haven’t been in contact together with her because the third of March. All of the communications are down as a result of the Russians bombed the mobile community,” she stated. “They’re not permitting any humanitarian corridors out of town, so no evacuation is feasible.”
Earlier than the conflict, Rina stated she begged her mom to come back to Israel by “no matter means mandatory,” however that her mom, “like everybody else in Mariupol,” merely had not believed the Russians would invade. “They stated, ‘If Putin stated he’s not going to do it, then he’s not.’ They insisted on staying there,” she stated.
Responding to stories that Putin is able to speak to Zelensky, Rina stated, “You may’t consider something Putin’s saying. He by no means stored his guarantees. The identical goes for what he says now.”
Stanislav, Rina and their son Alex—Ukrainians who made aliyah—attend a protest in Tel Aviv, asking for Israel to do extra to assist their native nation, March 20, 2022. Photograph by David Isaac.