Israel's Foreign Minister Yair Lapid today again expressed his anger over the statements of his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov that Adolf Hitler also had Jewish blood and repeated his call to Moscow to apologize.
"I think it is necessary for the Government of Russia to apologize to the Jews, to the memory of those who were killed. It was a terrible statement," Lapid told public service Khan and suggested that Lavrov "read the history book" instead of spreading false "anti-Semitic rumours." .
Israel's foreign minister did not rule out the possibility that Lavrov's statements were a response to his condemnation of Russia for war crimes during the invasion of Ukraine.
"The Russians have raised their voice against the whole world, because after all, the sanctions are getting stronger, due to the fact that it is an unjust war. This has been clear since the first day," said Lapid.
However, he added that Israel takes into account its national security interests and its values when speaking out against Russia's actions, Israeli media reported.
"Like all democracies, we think that the Russian invasion of Ukraine is unjust and must end, and we say so and we also vote (that way) in international bodies when necessary," said the Israeli minister.
He explained that Israel is always careful to protect its interests in neighboring Syria, where the Russian military is strong, but that no one can tell Israelis that they cannot take a moral stand on global issues, as they expect a moral stand to be taken. when Israel was attacked.
Responding to reports in the Haaretz newspaper that Israel is considering whether to expand military aid to the Ukrainians, he said that the Jewish state has been helping Ukraine, along with its closest ally the US, since day one.
"The whole world is learning as we are how to deal with that war and Israel is reassessing its position all the time," Lapid said.
Israel because it recently agreed to send helmets and protective vests for emergency workers in Ukraine and last Sunday sent a Defense Department official to Germany for US-led talks on equipping Ukraine.
A diplomatic official cited by Haaretz said Israel is not considering sending offensive weapons and advancing defense technology such as the Iron Dome anti-missile system, but will try to find equipment that can be delivered without causing a crisis in relations with Moscow.
Russia's ambassador to Tel Aviv, Anatoly Viktorov, said in April that Moscow would react appropriately if Israel supplies Ukraine with military equipment.
On Monday, Viktorov was invited to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel for an interview due to Lavrov's statements. Lapid said that conversation was difficult, but did not disclose details.
"You can assume and it would be a reasonable assumption that it was a very difficult conversation with the ambassador here because it is unforgivable, unforgivable to blame the Jews for their own holocaust. Hitler was not a Jew and the Jews did not kill my grandfather in Mathhausen. The Nazis did it and all those comparisons to Nazis are inexcusable and infuriating," Lapid said.
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