Israel Strongly Criticizes Russian Foreign Minister's Remark That "Hitler Also Had Jewish Ancestry"

Sergey Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister [Photo by AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Byung-hee] The Israeli government strongly criticized Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov for claiming that Adolf Hitler was of Jewish descent, major foreign media reported on the 2nd (local time). The Israeli government condemned Lavrov's remarks as an unforgivable lie that trivializes the Nazi Holocaust atrocities, and Western leaders including Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also unanimously condemned Lavrov's statements.

On the afternoon of the 1st, Lavrov made the remarks during an interview on the Italian private broadcaster Rete 4's talk program, in the process of justifying the invasion rationale of Ukraine's "denazification."

In the interview, when asked, "Volodymyr Zelensky, the President of Ukraine, is Jewish, so can Ukraine's denazification be a war justification?" Lavrov responded, "Hitler was also of Jewish descent," adding, "That means nothing." Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine on February 24, citing "denazification" as one of its main objectives.

The Israeli government immediately reacted. On the morning of the 2nd, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Russian ambassador to Israel to demand an explanation regarding Lavrov's remarks.

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said, "Such lies intend to shift the blame for the most horrific crimes committed against Jews in history onto the Jews themselves," warning, "Do not invoke the Holocaust for political purposes."

Condemnations from Western leaders followed.

Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi pointed out that unlike Russia, Italy has freedom of expression, and although Lavrov's views are false and inappropriate, expressing them is allowed. However, he said, "The part about Hitler is absurd."

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said, "I cannot believe the words of the Russian Foreign Minister," condemning them as "nonsense and unacceptable." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also stated, "It means Russia has either forgotten all the lessons of World War II or has learned none of them."

Chuck Schumer, the U.S. Senate Majority Leader and of Jewish descent, said Lavrov is defending Russia's actions by relying on anti-Semitism, adding, "As the highest-ranking elected Jewish official in the United States, I am deeply shocked by his words."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.