Knesset Speaker Ohana Accuses European Leaders of Spreading Genocide Lies
Translated & summarized from i24NEWS French by baba
Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana accused European leaders of spreading "hateful lies" about genocide in Gaza during a speech to European parliament presidents in Rome. He stated that Israel is not committing genocide and criticized leaders for sacrificing truth for electoral gain. Ohana referenced the October 7th attacks and the Holocaust to illustrate the meaning of genocide, urging European nations to support Israel in what he called a global fight for freedom and democracy.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana accused European leaders of spreading genocide lies against Israel.
- Ohana stated that Israel is not committing genocide and urged European leaders to stop the "hateful lie."
- He criticized European leaders for sacrificing truth for electoral gain and lacking courage.
- Ohana referenced the October 7th attacks as the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust.
- He presented a book honoring Holocaust victims to illustrate the meaning of genocide.
- Ohana called the conflict a global struggle between darkness and freedom, urging European support.
Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana strongly condemned accusations of genocide against Israel on Thursday, speaking in Rome to presidents of European parliaments during a Council of Europe meeting. Addressing an assembly that applauded him, Ohana criticized European leaders for allegedly sacrificing truth for electoral gain, citing a "grave crisis of courage on the international stage." He asserted that some politicians spread "lying accusations" for temporary electoral support and to appease domestic tensions.
"Everyone in this room knows the truth: Israel is not committing genocide. Stop this hateful lie," Ohana declared. He referenced the October 7th attacks, calling them the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust, and detailed atrocities committed by Hamas, emphasizing that civilians, including infants, were targeted, not caught in crossfire. Ohana presented a 1,250-page book, "And Every Single One Was Someone," by Phil Chernofsky, which reproduces the word "Jew" six million times to honor Holocaust victims, stating, "This is what a real genocide looks like."
Ohana explained he keeps the book on his desk at the Knesset to prevent "never again" from becoming an empty phrase and stressed Israel's responsibility to stop forces calling for the extermination of Jews. He urged European leaders to support Israel, framing the conflict as a global struggle between "forces of darkness, extremism and fundamentalism, and those of freedom and democracy." He concluded by appealing to European nations to "be on the right side of history, with us."
Petra Bayer, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, thanked him in Hebrew.
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