FM Sa’ar” "If, God forbid, the calls and actions of countries and politicians for an arms embargo on Israel succeed - the result will be the destruction of Israel and a second Holocaust."
Minister of Foreign Affairs Gideon Sa'ar at the International Conference on Combating Antisemitism: "The leader of Iran speaks every week, and posts open calls for the destruction of Israel on his Twitter account. Which countries have drawn conclusions from this?"
"If, God forbid, the calls and actions of countries and politicians for an arms embargo on Israel succeed - the result will be the destruction of Israel and a second Holocaust."
Chaired by Minister of Foreign Affairs Gideon Sa’ar, International Conference on Combating Antisemitism began today at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with the participation of representatives from dozens of countries, including foreign ministers and other senior ministers, special envoys for combating antisemitism and leaders of international Jewish communities and organizations.
The conference is being held within the framework of Israel's year of presidency of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA).
FM Sa’ar: "Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, two staff members of our embassy in Washington, were murdered in an antisemitic terrorist attack. This young couple, who were about to get engaged, were added to the longest list in the world: the list of victims of antisemitism.
The founders of Zionism believed that a Jewish state in the Land of Israel would solve the problem of antisemitism. This did not happen.
The new antisemitism targets the State of Israel. We saw this when the ICC decided for the first time to issue arrest warrants against elected leaders of a democratic state – one with a deep commitment to the rule of law and an independent judicial authority: Israel. They trampled on all the relevant legal principles of international law: jurisdiction and the principle of complementarity.
Israel is a country under open threat of destruction and attempted destruction by its neighbors. This is hardly mentioned in the discourse about the war.
We appear twice on the flag of the Yemenite Houthis. ‘Death to Israel’ alongside ‘Curse on the Jews’ is inscribed on their flag!
The Hamas charter speaks of raising the flag of Allah ‘over all that is on the land of Palestine.’ It defines the entire country as ‘the land of Islam,’ where an Islamic state must be established. The very presence of Jews in the Land of Israel, the historical homeland of the Jewish people, is described as a malicious and illegitimate invasion. According to the charter, no war in the world is waged without Jewish involvement.
Iranian leader Khamenei openly tweets and calls on his Twitter account for the destruction of Israel.
Which countries have drawn the necessary conclusions from these statements and with this reality? What is the meaning of actions or statements - by politicians or countries - to impose an arms embargo on Israel? If such moves succeed - Israel will simply be destroyed. There will be another Holocaust - on the soil of the Land of Israel. This is essentially a way to deprive the Jewish people of the means to defend themselves. Means that they so lacked during the long years of exile and during the Holocaust.
Paradoxically - since October 7, the largest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust – there has been a dramatic increase in antisemitism around the world. Shamelessly, it is encroaching into the mainstream from the margins.
The dissemination of hate speech targeting Jews and Israel is prevalent in both digital and physical environments worldwide. Broad mobilization is required. To effectively combat antisemitism, it is essential for states, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders to collaborate, in all spheres.
Unfortunately, we are far from this goal. But this gathering in Jerusalem today is an expression of commitment to the fight against antisemitism. I would like to thank the delegation that came from the IHRA countries. The role of the IHRA in preserving and transmitting the story and lessons of the Holocaust to future generations is more vital than ever. The last of the Holocaust survivors are passing away.
The fight against antisemitism and the struggle to remember the Holocaust is part of a deep commitment not only to remembering the past but also to creating a better future.