The remarks were part of Lavrov’s defense of Russia’s policy of “denationalization” in Ukraine, the Kremlin’s condition for a sweeping crackdown that Ukraine says is a pretext for “mass murder.” In an interview on Italian television, Lavrov was asked to talk about how Russia could say it should “seek” the country when its president, Volodymyr Zelensky, is Jewish. “As to [Zelenskiy’s] “An argument for what kind of Nazism we can have if I am Jewish, if I remember correctly and I may be wrong, Hitler also had Jewish blood,” Lavrov said in an interview with Italian television channel Mediaset. “It means absolutely nothing.” “We have long heard the wise Jews say that the most angry anti-Semites tend to be Jews,” Lavrov continued. “There is no family without a monster.” The statements have sparked a diplomatic row with Israel, one of the few Western countries that has not yet imposed sanctions on Russia for its invasion and has not provided military assistance to Ukraine. “Foreign Minister Lavrov’s statements are both an unforgivable and outrageous statement, as well as a terrible historical mistake,” said Yair Lapid, Israel’s foreign minister. “Jews did not commit suicide in the Holocaust. “The lowest level of racism against Jews is to accuse the Jews themselves of anti-Semitism.” Israeli officials also apologized to Russia for the comments. “His words are untrue and their intentions are wrong,” said Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett. “The use of the Holocaust by the Jewish people as a political tool must stop immediately.” Mykhailo Podolyak, Zelenskiy’s adviser, called Lavrov’s statement “anti-Semitic” and said it was “further proof that Russia is the legitimate successor to Nazi ideology.” “In trying to rewrite history, Moscow is just looking for arguments to justify the mass killings of Ukrainians,” he said. Yad Vashem, the Israeli Holocaust memorial, also condemned Lavrov’s statements as “irrational, delusional, dangerous and worthy of condemnation.” Subscribe to the First Edition, our free daily newsletter – every morning at 7 p.m. BST The group also attacked Zelensky in March for comparing Russia’s intentions in Ukraine to the Holocaust. Lavrov has referred to Zelensky’s religion in the past, as Moscow is being pressured to explain how it can “denationalize” a country with a Jewish leader. In March, shortly after the start of the Russian war in Ukraine, Lavrov told the American television network ABC News: “I think the Nazis and the neo-Nazis are manipulating [Zelenskiy]. » In an interview this week, Lavrov also said he did not want Ukraine to surrender but simply to “stop resisting.” “We do not demand this [Zelenskiy] “surrender,” Lavrov said. “We demand that he order the release of all civilians and that he stop resisting. “Our goal does not include regime change in Ukraine.” Italy’s Mediaset television channel also came under fire for giving Lavrov space, with Enrico Letta, the leader of the center-left Democratic Party, describing the exclusive interview on the current Zona bianca program as “propaganda advertising”. Laura Garavani, senator of the small party Italia Via, said that the interview, conducted by Giuseppe Brindisi, “was an offensive spectacle for a democracy like ours. “The network acted as a soundtrack to Russian propaganda, leaving Lavrov speechless, denying the crimes he was committing without any controversy.” Ruth Dureghello, president of the Jewish Community of Rome, said Lavrov’s statements were “delusional and dangerous” and that their most serious aspect was that they were made “on Italian television, without controversy and without the presenter objecting to the lies.” that were said “. “This is unacceptable and can not be allowed to pass silently,” he added.
