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Global reaction to Oct. 7th massacre shows Holocaust lessons ‘not learned properly,’ says Czech diplomat

insightkurdistan 03/23/2024

The ambassador reported that she was significantly shocked by how less than-noted the sexual crimes of Hamas were being.

By Etgar Lefkovits, JNS

The outburst of antisemitism throughout the West subsequent the Hamas massacre on Oct. 7 and the worlds incapacity to obviously differentiate concerning the attacker and the sufferer signifies that the lessons of the Holocaust have not been acquired, the Czech ambassador to Israel mentioned on Wednesday.

I was very stunned how soon just after Oct 7 this eruption of antisemitism came even before the Israeli armed service operation in Gaza started, Ambassador Veronika Kuchynova Smigolova told JNS in an interview. I had thought that basic antisemitism was a lot weaker than it is.

The envoy from one of Israels staunchest allies in Europe reported she remains dumbfounded by the worlds reaction to the invasion that triggered the five-thirty day period-outdated war versus Hamas in Gaza, which promptly concentrated on the plight of Palestinians in the Strip.

It seems like the classes from the Holocaust ended up not realized correctly, Kuchynova Smigolova mentioned. This incapacity to differentiate involving the attacker and the defender is absolutely breathtaking.

The ambassador explained that she was particularly shocked by how below-reported the sexual crimes of Hamas were being, and the global communitys belated and minimalistic response to the attacks, like womens teams and the United Nations.

It appears to be like no one wanted to see that, she mentioned.

Kuchynova Smigolova, who previously served as deputy international minister, claimed that a mostly uninformed and uninterested European public was being affected by a robust anti-Israel slant in the media, a number of important anti-Israeli nations in Europe, senior E.U. leaders and the ignorant voices of uneducated youth at universities.

I hope that what transpired after Oct 7 with the denial [of the massacre] and the antisemitism will be a wake-up get in touch with for numerous governments in the West to get started with instruction, not only about the Holocaust and antisemitism but about the development of the Point out of Israel and the indigenous relationship of the Jewish individuals, she claimed.

It is distinct to me that Hamas simply cannot remain in ability, Kuchynova Smigolova stated. Oct 7 was these a very clear unprovoked assault on civilians in Israeli territory that was not even in dispute on people today from the remaining who supported peace and employed Gazans and still it happened to them.

Differences in the EU

In the interview, the ambassador was very important of E.U. overseas coverage chief Josep Borell for his vociferous criticism of Israel, which include his feedback that Jerusalem was deliberately starving Palestinians in Gaza. She stressed, nevertheless, that a lot of of his remarks represented his particular sights and not those of the 27-member E.U.

We are really sad with some of his statements, Kuchynova Smigolova available diplomatically, noting Borell is in the final months of his expression with E.U. elections set for May perhaps.

Nearly anyone would be improved than him, she said.

Inspite of its assist for Israel, the ambassador conceded that the Czech Republic shifted its place final week to aid an E.U. declaration sanctioning many Israeli citizens of Judea and Samaria accused of harassing Palestinians in the wake of a comparable move taken by the U.S. authorities.

She mentioned that whilst in the beginning, Prague did not feel it was an acceptable transfer both equally in the context of the war and mainly because Israel has authorized mechanisms in place to punish its own criminals, it supported the choice in the wake of E.U. dynamics following Hamas leaders were being even further sanctioned first.

In some cases you need to have to compromise in purchase to get what you want, Kuchynova Smigolova reported.

Shifting the embassy to Jerusalem

Prague is also going through powerful E.U. strain against moving its embassy to Jerusalem irrespective of wall-to-wall Czech parliamentary aid for these types of a transfer and the backing of the leading.

I hope it will come about, and if the circumstances are suitable it could occur, the ambassador stated.

Kuchynova Smigolova advised that this kind of a transfer was probable only right after the war, and as portion of a broader context such as peace with Saudi Arabia.

I do not consider that it is the strongest precedence for Israel to transfer our embassy in the middle of the war, she reported.

Ties that bind

The ambassador mentioned that her countrys romantic relationship with Israel dates back again to right before the founding of the modern-day state.

Tomas Masaryk (1850-1937), the founding father of Czechoslovakia, fought the antisemitic prejudices of his spouse and children and went on to turn out to be an ardent Zionist immediately after a go to to the Holy Land in 1927.

His son Jan Masaryk (1886-1948), who served as overseas minister until his demise soon prior to Israels War of Independence, is credited with arming the nascent condition with Czech rifles at a time when other nations around the world refused to supply it with weapons.

The Wests betrayal of Czechoslovakia in the guide-up to World War II was clean in his memory.

It could be that as a compact country that for generations experienced to struggle versus neighbors and staying deceived by so-named mates that we have a experience of what Israel is undergoing, Kuchynova Smigolova said.

The ambassador famous that considering that the Czech Republics 1989 democratic revolution, support for Israel has blossomed.

We do not have any political parties that do not assist Israel, she mentioned. Its not correct or remaining. If there is everything that our split parliament can agree on it is our help for Israel.

However, she mentioned the influence that the younger generation of Czechs are going through at universities on the continent from their European peers coupled with a strongly anti-Israel European media, pointing out if two a long time ago an anti-Israel demonstration was unheard of in the Czech Republic, currently tiny groups can be located in a sea of support.

This is definitely a little something we have to fork out interest to for the long run, Kuchynova Smigolova claimed. Ours is a extended romantic relationship.

Walls of support and picking fruit fingers on

The placards, penned by Czech pupils and lining the gates of the countrys embassy on the tree-lined avenue in central Tel Aviv, explain to the tale of the wide assist for Israel at a time when the Jewish condition is condemned in quite a few capitals throughout the globe.

We stand with Israel. Remember to stay sturdy, a person reads. Sending love from the Czech Republic, reads yet another. Peace and really like from Prague and We stand with you.

Kuchynova Smigolova invested Tuesday finding cherry tomatoes and zucchini at Moshav Mivtahim in southern Israel whose operator was killed by Hamas terrorists on Oct. 7. The ambassador also expended a day in November working at the exact moshav.

It felt very good to do one thing hands-on once again over and above diplomacy, she explained.

Czech RepublicVeronika Kuchynova Smigolova