Holocaust remembrance forum: dozens of world leaders visit Israel

Dozens of world leaders gathered on January 23 in Jerusalem (Israel) for the largest meeting in history dedicated to the memory of Holocaust victims and the fight against modern anti-Semitism. Writes about this "Voice of America".

Фото: Depositphotos

Russian President Vladimir Putin, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Crown Prince Charles, US Vice President Mike Pence, as well as the Presidents of Germany, Italy and Austria were among more than 40 honored guests of the World Holocaust Forum, dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp ( Auschwitz).

Screenshot: Instagram / b.netanyahu

The three-hour event at the Yad Vashem Memorial Complex in Jerusalem was called “Remember the Holocaust, Combat Anti-Semitism”. It is intended to present a united front in memory of the genocide of Jews in Europe against the backdrop of a global surge in violence against Jews on the continent and around the world.

But the unforgettable remnants of politics since World War II permeate this memorable event, manifesting itself in different interpretations of historical events by some political players.

Screenshot: Instagram / @ clarencehouse

The Polish president, criticized for his own revisionism of military history, boycotted the event because he was not invited to speak, while Putin was given a central role. At the same time, the Russian leader leads a campaign to belittle the pre-war pact of the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany, and shifts responsibility for starting the war to Poland, which was captured in 1939.

Screenshot: Instagram / b.netanyahu

On the eve of the forum, Israeli President Reuven Rivlin called on world leaders who had gathered for dinner at his official residence to “leave the story to historians.”

Photo: Official website of the President of Russia (kremlin.ru)

“The role of political leaders, all of us, is to shape the future,” he said.

Researchers at Tel Aviv University last year reported that in 2018, the number of attacks on Jews using violence increased significantly, and the number of Jews killed in anti-Semitic acts was the largest in several decades. They recorded 400 cases, with the most serious surge occurring in Western Europe.

Screenshot: Instagram / b.netanyahu

The Prime Minister of Canada emphasized "the evil of anti-Semitism and hatred, which again become too common."

“We cannot allow the passage of time to weaken our determination to never again allow such horrors,” he wrote on the eve of the event.

Photo: Official website of the President of Ukraine (president.gov.ua)

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky also arrived in Israel with a delegation, but refused to take part in the forum, stating that many people who survived the Holocaust cannot take part in the event because of his great interest. Therefore, the President of Ukraine and his delegation gave their places to these people. Zelensky wrote about this on his page in Facebook.

“I think this is correct. Moreover, this does not in any way cancel the respect for the memory of the victims of one of the most terrible tragedies of the 20th century by the Ukrainian delegation. We will take part in all planned events and hold scheduled meetings with the President, Prime Minister and Speaker of the Knesset of the State of Israel,” Zelensky wrote. “But those who deserve it most should get to the main event.” Those who accomplished the greatest feat saved life when it was almost impossible to save it.”

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