Kikar HaShabbatPolitics17:34

Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana Condemns European Hypocrisy on Israel at Council of Europe

By כיכר השבת

Translated & summarized from Kikar HaShabbat by baba

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Hebrew · 10 newsrooms covering

Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana delivered a forceful speech to European parliament leaders in Rome, criticizing their accusations of genocide against Israel and their perceived hypocrisy. He presented a book symbolizing the six million Jews murdered in the Holocaust to underscore the scale of loss and the need for vigilance. Ohana urged European leaders to stand with Israel and on the right side of history in what he described as a global civilizational conflict. He also held bilateral meetings with several European parliamentary delegations.

The story in 6 lines · by baba

Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana criticized European leaders for accusing Israel of genocide and for their perceived hypocrisy.
Ohana presented a book with "Jew" printed six million times to symbolize Holocaust victims and the scale of loss.
He urged European parliament leaders to stand on the right side of history and support Israel.
Ohana described the current conflict as a global confrontation between civilization and extremism.
His speech at the Council of Europe in Rome was met with applause.
Ohana held bilateral meetings with parliamentary leaders from several European countries.

Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana Condemns European Hypocrisy on Israel at Council of Europe — Editorial illustration generated by baba News, not a photograph of the event.

Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana delivered a strong speech to European parliament leaders in Rome on Thursday, addressing discussions within the Council of Europe that focused on Israel and the Middle East conflict. His address was met with applause, and the President of the Parliamentary Assembly, Petra Bayer of Austria, thanked him in Hebrew.

Ohana began by criticizing European countries that accuse Israel of "genocide," questioning their leaders' motives. He stated that many world leaders profess to value important principles but are unwilling to defend them in practice. He further accused some leaders of deliberately lying and cynically supporting false propaganda to gain temporary electoral support and superficial peace at home.

"Everyone in this room knows the truth, Israel is not committing genocide. Enough of this despicable lie," Ohana declared. He also referenced the October 7th attacks, describing them as a day of unprecedented violence against Jews since the Holocaust, where innocent civilians, including babies, were deliberately targeted, not caught in crossfire.

During his speech, Ohana presented a copy of the book "And Every Single One Was Someone" by Phil Chernovsky. The book, he explained, contains the word "Jew" printed six million times in small print, representing each life lost. He held the heavy volume to emphasize the immense loss experienced by the Jewish people, particularly in Europe, and stated he keeps it on his desk as a reminder to never forget and to ensure "never again" is not an empty slogan.

Ohana urged the parliament leaders to stand on the right side of history, framing the current conflict as a global confrontation between civilization and extremism, not just a local dispute. He called for a united front against forces of darkness and fundamentalism, advocating for freedom and democracy. While in Rome, Ohana also held bilateral meetings with parliamentary leaders from Germany, Italy, Ukraine, Hungary, Romania, Lithuania, Montenegro, Cyprus, and Croatia to strengthen ties and present Israel's positions. The Council of Europe, founded in 1949, aims to promote human rights, democracy, and the rule of law, with its parliamentary assembly serving as a forum for discussing challenges facing democracies.