Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke yesterday evening in an informal session to Members of Knesset and Ministers via Zoom. Zelenskyy wanted the opportunity to plead his case and drum up more support and assistance.

Here is Zelenskyy's full speech:

If anything, Zelenskyy was most successful at upsetting Israeli politicians from across the spectrum. Zelenskyy's comparison to the Holocaust was over the top. I got that Zelenskyy is in a tough situation and desperate to drum up support, but comparing what is happening now with Russia's attack to the Holocaust 80 years ago is not a recipe for drumming up Jewish support. Zelenskyy claims the term "final solution" is being used today in Russia about the Ukraine like it was used 80 years ago. I wish he wouldnt make us defend Putin but while war is horrible, but it isnt a form of "final solution".

And then, perhaps most egregiously, Zelenskyy attacked Israel for not sending weapons when Ukrainians protected Jews 80 years ago during the Holocaust. A claim like that is simply rewriting history.

Sure, there are Righteous Gentiles from the Ukraine. Yad Vashem recognizes 2673 Righteous Gentiles form the Ukraine. Surely there must be some more who did not get recognition for one reason or another. 2673. Out of a country of 40 million people. While many were involved in brutal massacres and violently assisting the Nazis. That shouldnt detract anything from the Righteous Gentiles but claiming a general history of saving the Jews during the Holocaust is rewriting history.

Ukraine deserves support in whatever way possible, within the confines of what Israel can do. There are much bigger countries than Israel, wealthier countries than Israel, and closer countries than Israel. Israel is helping in many ways, and maybe there are areas in which Israel can step things up and help more. Zelenskyy's Jewish guilt trip is likely to not work and might even backfire.

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