Zelensky Laments the War with Russia While Supporting the Killing of Gaza’s Children
Some Arab analysts and political observers anticipated a balanced stance from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the situation in Gaza, hoping he might amend his previously extreme positions, especially after being invited to attend the Arab Summit in Saudi Arabia and his ongoing claims that his country is suffering injustices from its neighbor, Russia. However, this did not happen; instead, the Ukrainian president’s stance toward the Palestinians became even more extreme. He expressed support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, urging him to commit more massacres against “extremist children and women” in occupied Palestine.
The Ukrainian president has held this position for many years, without deviating from it—in fact, he has only intensified his extremism toward innocent people. It is undeniable that Western leaders’ stances after October 7, 2023, became extremely hardline and fascist in their support for Israel. Yet, many of them eventually condemned Israeli crimes and urged the government in Tel Aviv to stop indiscriminate killings and allow humanitarian aid. Zelensky, however, escalated his extremism and fascism, pleading with Netanyahu to visit him and offer full support, though Netanyahu declined his request.
Seeking the approval of Zionist groups, the Ukrainian president has openly endorsed an agenda supportive of the occupation, opening the city of “Uman” to welcome and host ultra-Orthodox Jews to practice their rituals and pray for Israel.
This year, 160,000 ultra-Orthodox Jews made the pilgrimage to Uman, while 14,000 others could not come due to security developments. A Hasidic Jew named Yehuda said, “If you want a safe place, come to Ukraine,” though Yehuda opposed this statement.
There are between 360,000 and 440,000 Jews living in Ukraine, according to the European Jewish Congress.
Tens of thousands of Orthodox Jews make the pilgrimage to Uman annually, mostly followers of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, the founder and spiritual leader of the Breslov Hasidic movement, who was born in Medzhybizh and buried in Uman, central Ukraine. The Ukrainian president makes sure to join them in performing these rituals.