Europe
The canceled visit due to security concerns shows “leaders’ ‘Never again’ declarations are hollow,” the European Jewish Association chairman said.
“Prague is really still one of the European cities where Jews, even with a kippah, can feel safe and go around in the streets,” Tomáš Pojar said.
Holocaust survivors and scholars said the international community’s abandonment of the Jewish state belies its promises to learn from the genocide.
“We will never forget the 6 million Jews murdered in cold blood,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
“Israel, despite being a small country, stands at the global forefront of the space field,” President Isaac Herzog said.
“Since the Oct. 7 massacre, antisemitism has raised its ugly face, but we will fight it,” said Israeli Ambassador to Portugal Oren Rozenblat.
Anti-Israel co-organizers and their rhetoric at last year’s event make attendance at the ceremony “unacceptable,” community leaders said.
In December, Israel closed its embassy in Dublin due to “antisemitic actions and rhetoric” consistently undertaken by the Irish government.
El Al had reportedly already redirected its Cyprus flights to Larnaca for several days beforehand.
The mixed martial artist and professional boxer spoke out against pro-Palestinian demonstrators in his home country of Ireland.
“We do not want an Islamist Jew-hater who calls for violence in Switzerland,” said a local politician.
The museum and shul will be open for tours and prayer from Jan. 24-26.
