On Monday, Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid denounced the statements of his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, who said that Hitler had “Jewish blood”, and summoned the Russian ambassador for “clarifications.”
Since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, Israel has always tried to maintain a diplomatic balance in its relations with Kyiv and Moscow, but Lavrov’s statements in an interview with the Italian channel Mediaset broadcast on Sunday sparked outrage.
Lavrov said that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky “makes this argument: How could Nazism exist (in Ukraine) if he (Zelensky) himself was a Jew?” Then he added, “I may be wrong, but Hitler was also of Jewish blood.”
Lapid condemned the statements in a statement, saying, “Minister Lavrov’s statements are at the same time scandalous, unforgivable and a terrible historical mistake,” noting that the Russian ambassador to Israel was summoned to provide “explanations.”
Danny Dayan, head of the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial, also condemned Lavrov’s statements, considering them “unfounded, misleading and dangerous statements that deserve to be condemned.”
In a speech at the end of March to the Israeli parliament, Zelensky called on Israel to “make a choice” by supporting Ukraine in confronting Russia, asking the Hebrew state to provide his country with weapons.
Israel sent protective equipment to Ukraine but not weapons, Israeli officials said.