Netanyahu recalled that the uprising at the
Sobibor camp was led by a Soviet officer of Jewish descent.
SOCHI, August 23. /TASS/. Israel supports Russia’s participation in the
memorial project at the site of what was the Nazi death camp Sobibor in Poland,
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a conversation with Russian President
Vladimir Putin on Wednesday.
"We, including myself never forget the historical role Russia and the Soviet army played in the victory over Nazism," Netanyahu said.
"We, including myself never forget the historical role Russia and the Soviet army played in the victory over Nazism," Netanyahu said.
"The
Israeli parliament reaffirmed this just recently. As you know very well, Mr.
President, this is the reason why I initiated the idea of erecting a special
monument in Netanya commemorating the Liberator Soldier, the soldier of the
Soviet army. You attended the inauguration of that monument. In that context
Israel cannot oppose Russia’s participation in a very important project at the
former concentration camp Sobibor."
Netanyahu
recalled that the uprising at the Sobibor camp was led by a Soviet officer of
Jewish descent. He thanked Putin for his personal decision to extend assistance
to World War II veterans residing in Israel. "Holy cause," Putin
remarked.
Sobibor camp
The death
camp at Sobibor functioned from May 1942 to October 1943. According to
different estimates 150,000 to 250,000 Jews from Poland and other European
countries were put to death there.
The
concentration camp ceased to exist after an uprising by its inmates led by
Soviet officer Aleksandr Pechersky.
Russia was
invited to join the project for the museum’s renovation in 2013, initiated by
Poland, Israel, the Netherlands and Slovakia whose representatives have
seats on the organizing committee. Russia accepted the invitation.
In July
2017 Warsaw said that the project’s International Steering Committee had excludedRussia from the list of participants.
Russian
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Moscow reacted with surprise
to the news the Netherlands, Slovakia and Israel had changed their mind.
Victory day in Israel
On June 26
the Israeli parliament approved in the third, final reading a bill on
celebrating the day of victory over Nazi Germany. As follows from a statement
published on the Knesset’s website, the day of victory over Nazis in World War
II will be officially marked in Israel on May 9 and included in a list of
public holidays.
Source: ITAR-TASS 23-08-2017
