Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., February 06, 2008 Shvat 30, 5768 | | Israel Time: 17:54 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko speaking with President Peres at his official residence in Jerusalem, on Wednesday. (AP) Last update - 21:44 14/11/2007 Ukrainian president condemns anti-Semitism in Knesset speech By Shahar Ilan and Yair Ettinger, Haaretz Correspondents and The Associated Press Tags: Ukraine, Yushchenko, Peres  Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko condemned anti-Semitism before the Knesset plenum in Jerusalem on Wednesday, but did not apologize for his country's role in the Holocaust. Yuschenko told the Knesset his country would not tolerate any form of anti-Semitism or xenophobia. "We will fight against these evils that poison all good things," he said, adding that a museum commemorating the Holocaust is currently under construction in the Ukraine. Before speaking at the Knesset, he toured the old city of Jerusalem and placed a prayer between the stones of the Western Wall. Western Wall Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitz said Yuschenko told him the objective of his visit to Israel was to "express solidarity with the Jewish people and their heritage and pray at the religion's holiest site." Advertisement Knesset Speaker Dalia Itzik did not mention Ukrainian participation in the Holocaust while addressing Yuschenko, but did echo his sentiments on Stalin's massacre of Ukrainians. On a tour of Jerusalem on Wednesday, Yushchenko and his wife Kateryna visited Israel's Holocaust memorial, Yad Vashem, where he was presented with documents concerning his father's imprisonment by the Nazis. Andrej Juschtschenko, the president's father, was a Soviet soldier who was captured in 1944 and imprisoned for a year. Yushchenko appeared introspective while touring exhibits highlighting the killing of 1.4 million of Ukraine's 2.4 million Jews during the Holocaust. His wife, Kateryna Yushchenko's was moved to tears by an exhibit about the Babi Yar massacre, in which 33,711 Jews were rounded up and shot on the edge of a ravine in Kiev between Sept. 29-30, 1941. The Nazis then buried some alive and beat others with shovels. Yushchenko gave the museum a sample of soil and a rock from the site. Yuschenko said his country sought to play a role in efforts to forge peace between Israel and the Palestinians, and President Shimon Peres suggested that Kiev help with money. Speaking at a joint news conference at Peres' official residence, Yushchenko said he held the relationship between Israel and Ukraine in high regard and suggested the two countries have a shared future, despite a difficult history. "In the state of Israel we see a loyal partner and the best friend in all areas relating both to regional and global issues," Yushchenko said. "Ukraine wishes to play a role in the peace process." Ukraine's powerful neighbor, Russia, is a member of the Quartet of international peacemakers, with the United States, United Nations and the European Union. Peres said he told his guest that helping bankroll peace projects would be more welcome than additional political engagement. "Parallel to the political process there is now also an economic process, and I suggest that Ukraine take part in building the economic peace," Peres said. "I think the president (Yushchenko) liked this idea." In World War II, some 1.4 million of Ukraine's 2.4 million Jews were murdered during the Holocaust, most famously in the Babi Yar massacre where more than 33,000 Jews were executed at the edge of a ravine in Kiev between September 29-30, 1941. Nazis rounded up the Jews and shot them on a platform built over the ravine, burying some alive and beating other survivors with shovels. "We don't need to erase the past, nor should we neglect the future," said Peres. There have been some very difficult chapters in our history. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Prayer change Pope Benedict XVI nixes a reference to Jews` `blindness` over Jesus in a Catholic prayer. Blind and deaf in Jaffa 'The world's first professional deaf-blind theatre company' takes center stage in Jaffa.   1.   Why should he? 20:28  |  realism 14/11/07   2.   Yuschenko 20:50  |  leon 14/11/07   3.   his own father 20:52  |  TAZ 14/11/07   4.   Apparently, after his condemnation, he said Oy Vey! 21:26  |  Native Russian 14/11/07   5.   The most vile and barbaric were Ukrainians recruited by the Nazis 22:15  |  bat yam 14/11/07   6.   ukrainian role in the holocaust 23:01  |  dave s. 14/11/07   7.   Baba Yar 00:23  |  Marc 15/11/07   8.   Baba Yar 00:30  |  Marc 15/11/07   9.   Why should he? BECAUSE HE SHOULD DO SO! 03:08  |  kiefko 15/11/07   10.   President Yushchenko: Should he apologize? 17:22  |  Michael J.Berezowsky 23/11/07   11.   all about money 17:48  |  ad 06/02/08

Today Online Gov't task force mulls international presence in Gaza Strip Responses: 90 Egypt warns Hamas against provocations on Gaza border Responses: 54 Arab lecturer told to respect students' right to wear IDF uniform Responses: 120 Ukraine college rector: 'No such thing as anti-Semitism' Responses: 62 Amira Hass: Palestinian strike shows Fayyad gov't losing public credibility Responses: 12 Rosner's Domain The Jewish vote: Obama carried Massachusetts, Connecticut From Super Bowl drama to Super Tuesday drama True or false: Obama is pro-Palestinian, McCain will appoint James Baker Iraq, remember? (WTR) Obama, Clinton and Iran: The vote that made the difference More Headlines 17:52 Two children lightly hurt in rocket strike on kibbutz 17:16 Israel to begin work on separation fence along border with Egypt 12:33 Winograd panel member hints PM shouldn't quit despite damning report 15:42 The Jewish vote: Obama carried Massachusetts, Connecticut 14:55 Police official: Gap in W. Bank barrier is calling out to bombers 15:29 German TV stars taken off-air over Nazis references 11:58 Rector of major Ukraine college says 'no such thing as anti-Semitism' 16:01 Israel, EU sign understandings on way to global aviation deal 17:24 Dichter: Heating, air conditioning to be installed in new prisons 14:33 Super Tuesday: U.S. vote puts McCain ahead; Clinton, Obama draw 12:36 Interior Minister to ultra-Orthodox: Find work and enlist to IDF 10:04 Israeli Arab lecturer told to say he respects students' right to wear IDF uniform Previous Editions Select Day 05 feb 04 feb 03 feb 01 feb 31 jan 30 jan 29 jan 28 jan 27 jan 25 jan 24 jan 23 jan

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