BICOM

Israel’s Prime Minister warned that Iran intends to destroy the Jewish state during an event to commemorate International Holocaust Memorial Day.

Speaking at the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial in front of representatives from around the world, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that although the Holocaust is behind us, “the hatred and intolerance that drove it is not”.

He said that there is a “resurgence of anti-Semitism” and that “few would have imagined that this would be possible a few years ago”.

He acknowledged that “governments have shown responsibility, and on the whole have taken this up, in Eastern Europe and in Western Europe alike,” but warned “that this hatred is bubbling”.

In this regard, Netanyahu said: “The greatest danger that we face, of the hatred for the Jewish people and the Jewish state, comes from the East. It comes from Iran. It comes from the ayatollah regime that is fanning these flames and calling outright for the destruction of the Jewish state.”

He explained that there would be outrage if a regime “openly declared its intention to eliminate every black person, every gay person, every European”. By comparison, said Netanyahu, there is “a deafening silence” when “a regime merely calls to wipe out every Israeli”.

However, Netanyahu expressed hope that international attitudes may change, having recently spoken to President Trump.

He said: “[Trump] spoke about Iran’s commitment to destroy Israel. He spoke about the nature of this nuclear agreement and the danger it poses. We spoke about it together.”

Netanyahu added: “We cannot and will not be silent in the face of Iran’s stated aim of destroying Israel.”

He also pledged: “As Prime Minister of Israel, I will not be silent, I haven’t been silent, and we don’t intend to be inactive either.”

The UN General Assembly will today hold a special session marking International Holocaust Memorial Day. The keynote speaker will be 90-year-old Auschwitz survivor and Israeli journalist Noah Klieger.