The USA condemns the words of Russian Minister Sergei Lavrov, who compared the international isolation of the Russian Federation to the killing of Jews during the Holocaust. In turn, Israel called his words unacceptable.
Voice of America and the Israeli publication ynet.co.il wrote about it.
The reaction of the White House
“How dare he compare anything to the Holocaust, anything. Let alone a war that they started,” said the House national security spokesman, John Kirby.
He emphasized that the words of the Russian minister are so absurd that they are not worth responding to. Kirby also noted that since Russia invaded Ukraine, first in 2014, then, on a much larger scale, in early 2022, claims that the Russians are “victims” look absolutely ridiculous.
From the very beginning, Putin is trying to portray the situation as something that threatens Mother Russia. This is a lie, according to Kirby.
He also called Lavrov’s statement delusional and absurd.
How Israel responded
The Israeli side was also quick to respond. The Israeli Foreign Ministry strongly condemned Lavrov’s statement and accused him of distorting history.
“Any comparison or juxtaposition of current events with Hitler’s plan of the final solution to the extermination of the Jewish people distorts the historical truth, desecrates the memory of the dead and those who survived, and must be resolutely rejected,” the Israeli Foreign Ministry said.
The reaction of the European Jewish Congress
The European Jewish Congress (EJC) demands an apology from the foreign minister of the aggressor country, Sergei Lavrov, for comparing Russians to Jews and the West to Hitler. This is written in the EJC statement.
“We are shocked and appalled by this shameful comparison drawn by Minister Lavrov between the actions of a coalition of democratic countries and Hitler’s persecution and murder of six million Jews in the Shoah,” said EJC President Ariel Musicant.
The EJC said that Lavrov’s statements were a distortion of the Holocaust. “This is Holocaust distortion at its most basic level and we call on Mr. Lavrov to unequivocably apologise and withdraw these comments,” it added.
It should be recalled that the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Sergei Lavrov, issued a cynical statement, comparing the Russians to the Jews in the times of the Holocaust, and comparing the aid to Ukrainians from the U.S. and its allies to Hitler’s actions.
The Ukrainian side has also responded to Lavrov’s words. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that playing “victim” will not help the Russian minister avoid accountability for crimes against Ukraine.
