Israel recalls ambassador to Belarus because of Lukashenka's anti-semitic remarks

18 October Israel’s Ambassador to Belarus Zeev Ben-Arie was recalled for consultation in the connection with the recent anti-Semitic Aliaksandr Lukashenka’s remarks, Israeli mass media inform. According to Internet resource NEWSru Israel, Foreign Minister of Israel Tzipi Livni harshly criticized anti-Semitic Lukashenka’s remarks made at a press conference for Russian regional mass media 12 October. “It is the responsibility of world leaders to battle anti-Semitism, which rears its ugly head in various places around the world, not encourage it”, - she said.

It should be reminded that Lukashenka said: “If you visited Babruisk, you saw in what condition the town was. It was frightfully to enter, it was a pigsty. It was largely a Jewish town, and you know what the attitude the Jews have towards the place they live. Look at Israel, I have been there… In no case want I to offend them, but they do not care of the grass to be cut like in Moscow, at Russians, Belarusians. Such was the town… Possible to live – good. Wooden houses – not bad, brick-built – not bad, too. Paved street – good, not paved – well. Such was the town. We have brought it to order and say to the Israeli Jews – guys, come back. I have said them come back with money”.

17 October in the comment to BelaPAN Zeev Ben-Arie expressed his “surprise and regret” concerning the Belarusian President’s remarks addressing Jews. “The echo of, as I hoped, the long ago buried by the enlightened mankind myth of untidy, dirty, stinking Jews, the anti-Semitic myth, is heard”, - the diplomat noted. “An impression appears that Babruisk was an independent Jewish barony with its independent budget, not one of the Belarusian towns where the responsibility for improvement and resources for it were in the hands of the local authorities. Thanks God, they find the facilities for urban development now”, - the ambassador said.

At the same time he wished “the Belarusian towns would reach the level of municipal and social services of Israel, with its health service, the aged and handicapped people care, drug control, alcoholism and domestic violence, kindergartens and schools equipment, though the president detected somewhere uncut grass”.

on photo: Foreign Minister of Israel Tzipi Livni