Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Holocaust survivors in Jerusalem on Sunday, as Israel observes its annual Day of Remembrance on Monday and Tuesday, April 13th and 14th. During the meeting, Netanyahu stated that Israel is “hunting down oppressors” amid regional escalation.
Netanyahu Draws Parallel Between Current Conflict and Holocaust
According to a statement released by his office on Monday, Netanyahu asserted, “We prevented them from carrying out their plan of annihilation with a force that brought the State of Israel to the peak of its power since its founding,” referring to Iran. He continued by questioning how, eighty years prior, anyone could have imagined Israeli pilots and squadrons flying over Iran, alongside the world’s leading power, to confront what he termed “the oppressor.”
Netanyahu characterized this as a “fundamental shift” compared to the experiences of the survivors present. He concluded by stating, “Which means that the people of Israel are alive, strong and powerful. There will be no second Holocaust.”
The Day of Remembrance of the Holocaust and Heroism is a national commemoration honoring the six million Jews murdered by Nazi Germany and its allies during the Shoá. The ceremony at Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center in Jerusalem, took place on Monday.
Frequently Asked Questions
What prompted Netanyahu’s statement?
Netanyahu made the statement during a meeting with Holocaust survivors on Israel’s Day of Remembrance, linking the current regional escalation, specifically concerning Iran, to the historical imperative of preventing another Holocaust.
What is Yad Vashem’s role in the commemoration?
Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center in Jerusalem, held a ceremony on Monday where six survivors each lit a torch in memory of every million victims of the Shoá.
When is Israel’s Day of Remembrance observed?
Israel’s Day of Remembrance of the Holocaust and Heroism is observed on Monday and Tuesday, April 13th and 14th, 2026.
How might these statements influence future diplomatic or military actions in the region?
