By The Associated Press via
NBC News
Ukraine's president on Sunday called on Israel to take a tougher stance against Russia, making an emotional appeal comparing the Russian invasion of his country to the actions of Nazi Germany.
In a speech to Israeli lawmakers, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said it was time for Israel, which has become a key mediator between Ukraine and Russia, to finally take sides.
He added that the country should follow its Western allies in imposing sanctions and providing weapons to Ukraine.
"One can wonder for a long time why we can't accept weapons from you or why Israel didn't impose sanctions against Russia, why they aren't putting pressure on Russian businesses," he said.
"It is your choice, dear brothers and sisters."
Protesters gather in Habima Square in central Tel Aviv to attend a televised speech by Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky. AFP via Getty Images
Zelenskyy, who has carefully tailored a number of similar parliamentary speeches to his audience, made frequent references to the Holocaust as he tried to rally support.
The comparisons drew angry condemnation from those in charge of Israel's national Holocaust memorial, who said the Ukrainian president was trivializing the event.
The president accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of trying to carry out a "final solution" against Ukraine, using the Nazi term to refer to the genocide of 6 million Jews during World War II.
Zelenskyy, who is Jewish, also noted that a Russian missile crashed into Babi Yar, the site of a notorious 1941 Nazi massacre that now houses Ukraine's main Holocaust memorial.
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"The people of Israel saw how the Russian rockets hit Babi Yar. They know what this place means, the victims of the Holocaust are buried there," he said.
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The use of such sensitive language was a clear attempt by Zelenskyy to connect with his audience.
Israel was founded in 1948 as a refuge for Jews after the Holocaust.
The country is home to tens of thousands of elderly survivors, and many of its leaders are children of survivors.
Putin has also tried to paint his enemies in Ukraine as neo-Nazis as he tries to legitimize his war.
Historians have condemned the use of such terminology as disinformation and a cynical tactic to further the Russian leader's goals.
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Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, whose father was a Holocaust survivor, thanked Zelenskyy for his speech.
"We will continue to help the Ukrainian people as much as we can and will never turn our backs on the plight of people who know the horrors of war," Lapid said.
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From the Yad Vashem memorial, Israel's national Holocaust memorial, Putin's Nazi references had already been condemned, however, Zelenskyy was also harshly criticized, without naming him.
"The propaganda discourse accompanying the current hostilities is saturated with irresponsible statements
and completely inaccurate comparisons with Nazi ideology and actions before and during the Holocaust," the organization said.
"Yad Vashem condemns this trivialization and distortion of historical facts."
The Israeli public has been largely supportive of Ukraine since Russia invaded its western neighbor on February 24.
Thousands of people, many of them waving Ukrainian flags, gathered in a Tel Aviv square to watch his speech on a giant screen.
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However, the Government of Israel has been much more cautious in forging its role as mediator in the conflict.
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett made a surprise visit to Moscow to meet with Putin on March 5.
Since then, he has spoken with the Russian leader at least twice and with Zelenskyy at least six times, according to his office.
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While Israel's foreign minister has strongly condemned the invasion, Bennett has used more neutral language.
With large Jewish populations in both Ukraine and Russia, Israel does not want to alienate either side.
The country also maintains good working relations with the Russian military in Syria, where both sides maintain a special hotline to ensure their air forces do not come into conflict.
Israel has delivered tons of humanitarian aid to Ukraine and is scheduled to open a special field hospital in the west of the country later this week.
But he has rejected calls to provide weapons or impose sanctions against Russia or its oligarchs, some of whom are Jewish and have strong ties to Israel.
Zelenskyy said that it is time for this to change.
"Everyone in Israel knows that your missile defense is the best, everyone knows that your weapons are strong, everyone knows that you are great and you know how to defend your national interests, the interests of your people and you can definitely help to defend ours," he said.