Russia Ramps Up Accusations of Neo-Nazism in Ukraine
Moscow responds to Israeli criticism of comments comparing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky with Hitler by saying Israeli government supports neo-Nazi regime in Kyiv
Russia doubled down Tuesday on its ever-wilder claims about Jews, neo-Nazis and Ukraine, accusing Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid of making “antihistorical statements” when he said Jews didn’t murder themselves in the Holocaust.
The attack on Mr. Lapid came in a statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry that claimed Mr. Lapid’s views “explain the support the current government of Israel has offered the neo-Nazi regime in Kyiv.”
The escalation of the quarrel could further damage relations between Russia and Israel, which has sought to preserve its relationship with Moscow and Russian President Vladimir Putin since the invasion while also offering backing to Ukraine.
Mr. Lapid was himself responding to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who in an interview on Sunday compared Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who is Jewish, with Hitler and said that “some of the worst anti-Semites are Jews.”
The interview brought swift denunciations from Mr. Lapid and Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, who demanded Moscow halt what they called outrageous claims about Jews and Nazis in an effort to justify their attacks on Ukraine.
Mr. Lapid has taken the lead in the Israeli government in criticizing Russian actions in Ukraine, while Mr. Bennett has largely avoided clashing publicly with Moscow.
A spokesman for Mr. Lapid said he would have no further comment.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said that citing Mr. Zelensky’s Jewish background to say his government isn’t promoting Nazism “is not only untenable, but also crafty”—using a common anti-Semitic reference.
“History, unfortunately, knows tragic examples of cooperation between Jews and the Nazis,” the Russian ministry said. “The Jewish origin of the president is not a guarantee of protection from rampant neo-Nazism in the country.”
The Russian ministry also falsely accused the Ukrainian government of promoting extreme anti-Semitism.
Mr. Zelensky condemned Mr. Lavrov’s comments late Monday, saying that “such an anti-Semitic expression by their minister means all the lessons of World War II have been forgotten. Or maybe those lessons were never learned.”
The Ukrainian leader questioned whether Israel’s ambassador would remain in Moscow and if Israel could maintain its balancing act between Ukraine and Russia.
But while Israeli officials lashed out publicly at the comments and summoned Russia’s ambassador to protest, Israeli diplomats in private say they must tread carefully and are anxious not to be pushed into a more open confrontation with Moscow over its Ukraine invasion.
Israel has long given priority to maintaining its freedom of action to attack Iran and Iranian-backed groups in the south of Syria in a bid to prevent Tehran entrenching its sway near Israel’s border. Russia, which plays a key military role in securing the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, has so far turned a blind eye to Israel’s strikes there.
Israel voted to condemn Russia’s invasion and has supplied Ukraine with humanitarian aid, medical assistance and small amounts of military gear, including helmets, and flak jackets. Israeli officials say Washington has been understanding of its position.
Mr. Bennett, who has sought to mediate between Ukraine and Russia in the conflict, has said he stands ready to do so again if asked, Israeli officials say.
However, Mr. Zelensky strongly criticized Israel’s stance in a speech to the Israeli parliament in March, raising Israel’s refusal to share its Iron Dome missile defense technology.
“You can mediate…but not between good and bad,” he said.
The Kremlin has compared its invasion of Ukraine with the Soviet struggle against the Nazis in World War II, falsely claiming that the government in Kyiv is beholden to neo-Nazis.
Mr. Putin has long fashioned himself as a backer of Russia’s Jewish community. In 2012, oligarchs close to Mr. Putin funded the building of a Jewish Museum and Tolerance Center estimated to have cost some $50 million, with the president himself donating a month’s salary to the cause.
Mr. Zelensky said Mr. Lavrov’s words, alongside the destruction of Ukrainian villages and cities and alleged war crimes of Russia’s army, show that Moscow has “rejected the morals and achievements of the victors over Nazism.”
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) took to the Senate floor on Monday to condemn Mr. Lavrov’s comments as “particularly disgusting.”