On video: Brazilian President Lula: "Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, like Hitler" 02.18.24/Reuters
Foreign Minister Israel Katz today (Monday) declared Brazilian President Lula da Silva an "undesirable personality" - after last night she compared the IDF's activities in the Gaza Strip to the atrocities of the Nazis in the Holocaust.
"We will not forget or forgive. This is a serious anti-Semitic attack. In my name and in the name of the citizens of the State of Israel," Katz declared, in a reprimanding conversation he had with the Brazilian ambassador, in which he declared the president of his country unwelcome in Israel. "Inform President Lula that he is an unwelcome personality in Israel until he does not return At
the meeting, Katz presented the Brazilian ambassador with the Book of Names, which includes the names of the Jewish victims of the Holocaust, including the minister's family members.
"The comparison between Israel's just war against Hamas, and the atrocities of Hitler and the Nazis, is a shame and a disgrace and a serious anti-Semitic attack," Katz told the ambassador. He will apologize and retract his words.
" "This is not war, this is genocide," said the Brazilian president during an official visit to the capital of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa. "This is not a war of soldiers against soldiers, but a battle of a trained army against women and children.
This thing happened in the past, when Hitler decided to murder the Jews."
Undesirable personality, Lola/Reuters
Finance Minister Israel Katz gets vaccinated against Corona, Ichilov, December 20, 2020/Reuven Castro
The outrageous act provoked a wave of condemnations in Israel.
Apart from Katz, who was quick to invite the ambassador to rebuke, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu harshly attacked Lula's words: "The statements are shameful and serious - this is about trivializing the Holocaust and an attempt to harm the Jewish people and Israel's right to defend itself.
This is about crossing a red line." Foreign Minister Katz ordered to summon the ambassador for a reprimand call. Ordered to summon the Brazilian ambassador to Israel for a reprimand call.
The Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir also condemned Lula's words and accused him of anti-Semitism: "The despicable words of the president of Brazil are shocking, but not at all surprising, when it comes to a corrupt president, an ardent supporter of the BDS organization, whom Hamas considers a close friend," he wrote the minister
"The State of Israel and the IDF are fighting a most justified war in Gaza, no anti-Semitic leader will tell us how to act to restore security to our wonderful nation."
Yad Vashem Chairman Danny Dayan commented on Lula's words: "His words are an outrageous combination of hatred and ignorance. The definition of IHRA (an organization in which Brazil itself looks towards becoming a member) is a clear anti-Semitic statement."
Wrote.
"A comparison of a country fighting a terrorist organization, which massacred over 1,200 of its citizens indiscriminately, to the actions of the Nazis who exterminated 6 million Jews deserves all condemnation. It is sad that the leader of a country descends to such a low point of extreme distortion of the Holocaust."
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