Israeli ambassador to Russia to be summoned over interview comments: Media

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Israel’s ambassador to Moscow will be summoned by the country’s Foreign Ministry over her “unacceptable” comments during an interview, Russian media said on Monday.

“Due to unacceptable public statements by the Israeli Ambassador (to Moscow Simona Halperin), distorting Russian foreign policy approaches and historical realities, Halperin will be summoned to the Foreign Ministry,” the ministry said, according to the state news agency TASS.

The ministry described Halperin’s comments during an interview with the Russian daily Kommersant published on Sunday as an “extremely unsuccessful start” to her diplomatic mission that began in December 2023.

This mission should be aimed at “developing bilateral relations in the interests of the peoples of the two countries,” the ministry said, noting that Halperin’s statement on Moscow’s efforts in trying to resolve the issue of hostages is “particularly indignant.”

“The thesis that the Holocaust was the extermination of only the Jewish people contradicts the resolution of the UN General Assembly.

"And thinking about the need for changes, as Halperin said, in the 'state calendar' of Russia, borders on interference in internal affairs,” the ministry added.

During her interview, Halperin expressed regret that International Holocaust Remembrance Day is not yet an official day in Russia’s state calendar, accusing Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov of “downplaying the significance of this monstrous event.”

“Yes, many nations suffered heavy losses, the Russian people paid for the victory over Nazism with millions and millions of lives. And we remember this. But never before in history has the world known such a massive and systematic extermination of people solely on ethnic grounds. Only the Jewish people experienced this. I will repeat this tirelessly,” she further said.

She also criticized Russia's policy since the outbreak of the Gaza conflict on Oct. 7, including with regards to negotiations with the Palestinian group Hamas on the release of hostages.

"Russia, which itself suffered from terrorist attacks, does not support Israel's fight against terrorism. On the contrary, it stands in solidarity with the Republic of South Africa, which filed an absurd lawsuit against Israel with the International Court of Justice, accusing it of genocide. ... Russia’s position worries and depresses me, since, because of it, your country is losing the sympathy of Israelis, including Russian speakers," Halperin added.