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March 21, 2022

Andrew Campbell 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy gives a video address to Israeli lawmakers via Zoom on March 20. President Zelenskiy made an emotional plea to Israel to take a more aggressive posture against Russia, comparing Russia's invasion of his country to Nazi Germany's activities. President Zelenskyy said it was past time for Israel, which has emerged as a key mediator between Ukraine and Russia, to take sides. In imposing sanctions and giving armaments to Ukraine, he believes Israel should follow the lead of its Western friends.

Israel's government has been much more cautious, fearful of a deterioration in relations with Moscow. In front of more than 100 members of the Israeli Parliament, including Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, President Zelensky chastised Israel for not penalizing Russia. According to President Zelensky, Russian President Vladimir Putin is considering a Holocaust-style 'final solution' for his people.

President Zelenskyy has made repeated comparisons to the Holocaust in an attempt to mobilize support since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24. He has meticulously tailored a series of comparable legislative speeches to each of his audiences. However, President Zelenskyy's parallels drew uproar from Israel's national Holocaust memorial, which claimed that he was trivializing the Holocaust.