The office of Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennet has rejected the request of the Ukrainian government to either move the Victory Day ceremonies, commemorating the defeat of Nazi Germany, or to scrap them for good, Channel 12 News has reported. Kiev reportedly suggested that Tel Aviv hold the ceremonies on Victory in Europe Day (8 May) the day when the western countries celebrate the same event.
According to Channel 12, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his envoy to Israel Yevgen Korniychuk made such a request so that Tel Aviv does not appear to align itself with Russia, where Victory Day is one of the biggest national holidays and is held on 9 May.
Israel also holds annual 9 May ceremonies, where it invites envoys of the foreign countries. These ceremonies are also attended by the Jewish migrants from Europe, the former USSR, and those who took part in the Second World War. The main ceremony is held at Jerusalem’s Mount Herzl National Cemetery.
The Ministry of Aliyah and Integration (formerly Ministry of Immigration and Absorption) stated earlier this week that the 9 May ceremonies will take place as previously scheduled.
Tel Aviv's reported decision to turn down Ukraine's request comes following a brief diplomatic mishap with Russia, after its Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov suggested that Hitler might have had Jewish blood in an interview with an Italian news outlet. The brief row was settled with the office of Prime Minister stating that Russian President had "apologised" for Lavrov's comments in a telephone call on 5 May.
The Russian president and the Israeli prime minister also discussed the importance of 9 May for the people of both countries during that telephone call, the Kremlin said. The people of Russia and Israel preserved the memory about those who died in the events of the Second World War, including the victims of the Holocaust, read the Kremlin's statement, commenting on the results of that conversation.
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