Israeli PM defends comparison of Iran to Nazi Holocaust

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected criticism of his likening of a nuclear-armed Iran to the Nazi Holocaust as improper, saying in an address to the country on Wednesday that “uncomfortable truths” must be aired.

He defended his analogy on the eve of Israel’s annual day of Holocaust remembrance against those who say it is not only irreverent to the six million Jews killed by Hitler’s Germany but also stokes panic about a new war.

The Jewish state has not ruled out military strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities if international sanctions imposed on Tehran or diplomacy fail to curb its atomic programme.

Western states suspect Iran is enriching uranium to develop the capability to build atomic bombs. The Islamic Republic says its enrichment programme is solely for peaceful energy purposes and poses no threat to anyone.

Israel, widely assumed to have the Middle East’s only nuclear arsenal, say a nuclear-armed Iran would be a mortal threat and when speaking of the issue, Netanyahu often cites lessons learned from the Holocaust.

“I know there are people who believe that it is forbidden to mention the unique evil of the Holocaust while talking about the current threats facing the Jewish people. They claim that doing so cheapens the Holocaust and insults its victims,” Netanyahu said. “I completely reject this approach.”

An Israeli opposition leader, Tzipi Livni, has said it is inappropriate for the government to use such rhetoric and former military chief Dan Halutz said “Holocaust-like” invocations scare the entire nation.

Commentator Gideon Levy wrote in the liberal daily Haaretz that Netanyahu had “belittled and cheapened” memories of the Holocaust.

A report from the U.N. nuclear watchdog last year revealed a trove of intelligence pointing to research activities in Iran of use in developing the means and technologies needed to assemble nuclear weapons, should it decide to do so.

But despite heightened speculation of a possible pre-emptive attack on Iranian nuclear facilities, the sense of unease has had little impact on normal life in Israel.

Few Israelis doubt they face hostility from the Islamic Republic. But some take umbrage at the Holocaust talk, given the protection now afforded by their seasoned military.

“I will continue saying the truth to the world but first of all to my own people, who I know are strong enough to hear the truth,” Netanyahu said. “And the truth is that it is necessary to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. It is the duty of the world, but above all, it is our duty.”

Reuters

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11 responses to “Israeli PM defends comparison of Iran to Nazi Holocaust”

  1. The scum bag Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should talk about the Nazi Holocaust. He is a expert on that in the way he deals with the Palestinains, and other issues in the middle east. Better yet, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin make Hitler look like an amateur… So don’t don’t you Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu Shut the hell up, and look at yourself before you point any fingers?

    1. 5thDrawer Avatar
      5thDrawer

      Can’t say that Sami … there has never been and hopefully never will be again a genocidal machine as efficient as the Nazi one. That is why MacArthur made sure it was fully recorded and documented and archived when he finally got to them and opened up those camps. (also why anyone trying to say it didn’t happen is simply an idiot).
      And EVERY human ‘race’ which has had it’s moments in history has ‘days of remembrance’. Don’t they? The reason is usually to show future generations why we humans now have a better understanding of the frailty of humanity, and how we SHOULD treat each other.
      Well …. that’s the theory, anyway.
      Netanyahu’s detractors – and we see those even in Israel – are right in the sense that comparing Iran now to a past event is not fair, considering that Iran hasn’t been quite as efficient in it’s past, and really the whole region has taken many more years to eliminate the same millions that Hitler (and Stalin too) did in a few short years. What everyone worries about is the modern efficiency of the atom, of course, and the likely-hood it will eliminate everyone in the ‘Levant’ in short order if it is used, and continue to do so on any living thing spreading outwards year after year from that moment. And you can’t say the Israelis have been more efficient in their methods either …. simply not true.
      Perhaps if Iran wanted to prove it used the atom only for peaceful things in a ‘safe’ manner, all the rhetoric would finally be given a rest. The problem is, Ayatollas love the same rhetoric. And ‘the people’ either get paranoid listening to it all the time, or tired of it, and that IS the bigger danger.

    2. 5thDrawer Avatar
      5thDrawer

      Can’t say that Sami … there has never been and hopefully never will be again a genocidal machine as efficient as the Nazi one. That is why MacArthur made sure it was fully recorded and documented and archived when he finally got to them and opened up those camps. (also why anyone trying to say it didn’t happen is simply an idiot).
      And EVERY human ‘race’ which has had it’s moments in history has ‘days of remembrance’. Don’t they? The reason is usually to show future generations why we humans now have a better understanding of the frailty of humanity, and how we SHOULD treat each other.
      Well …. that’s the theory, anyway.
      Netanyahu’s detractors – and we see those even in Israel – are right in the sense that comparing Iran now to a past event is not fair, considering that Iran hasn’t been quite as efficient in it’s past, and really the whole region has taken many more years to eliminate the same millions that Hitler (and Stalin too) did in a few short years. What everyone worries about is the modern efficiency of the atom, of course, and the likely-hood it will eliminate everyone in the ‘Levant’ in short order if it is used, and continue to do so on any living thing spreading outwards year after year from that moment. And you can’t say the Israelis have been more efficient in their methods either …. simply not true.
      Perhaps if Iran wanted to prove it used the atom only for peaceful things in a ‘safe’ manner, all the rhetoric would finally be given a rest. The problem is, Ayatollas love the same rhetoric. And ‘the people’ either get paranoid listening to it all the time, or tired of it, and that IS the bigger danger.

    3. Adam Yonatan Ben Yoel Avatar
      Adam Yonatan Ben Yoel

      How ignorant are you??? Do YOU EVEN KNOW WHAT HAPPENED IN THE HOLOCAUST??? 

    4. Adam Yonatan Ben Yoel Avatar
      Adam Yonatan Ben Yoel

      How ignorant are you??? Do YOU EVEN KNOW WHAT HAPPENED IN THE HOLOCAUST??? 

    5. Adam Yonatan Ben Yoel Avatar
      Adam Yonatan Ben Yoel

      The antisemitism I see from Anti-Israel Arabs is worse than the average antisemitism of the Germans in the early 20th century.

    6. Adam Yonatan Ben Yoel Avatar
      Adam Yonatan Ben Yoel

      The antisemitism I see from Anti-Israel Arabs is worse than the average antisemitism of the Germans in the early 20th century.

  2. The scum bag Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should talk about the Nazi Holocaust. He is a expert on that in the way he deals with the Palestinains, and other issues in the middle east. Better yet, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin make Hitler look like an amateur… So don’t don’t you Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu Shut the hell up, and look at yourself before you point any fingers?

    1. 5thDrawer Avatar
      5thDrawer

      Can’t say that Sami … there has never been and hopefully never will be again a genocidal machine as efficient as the Nazi one. That is why MacArthur made sure it was fully recorded and documented and archived when he finally got to them and opened up those camps. (also why anyone trying to say it didn’t happen is simply an idiot).
      And EVERY human ‘race’ which has had it’s moments in history has ‘days of remembrance’. Don’t they? The reason is usually to show future generations why we humans now have a better understanding of the frailty of humanity, and how we SHOULD treat each other.Well …. that’s the theory, anyway.
      Netanyahu’s detractors – and we see those even in Israel – are right in the sense that comparing Iran now to a past event is not fair, considering that Iran hasn’t been quite as efficient in it’s past, and really the whole region has taken many more years to eliminate the same millions that Hitler (and Stalin too) did in a few short years. What everyone worries about is the modern efficiency of the atom, of course, and the likely-hood it will eliminate everyone in the ‘Levant’ in short order if it is used, and continue to do so on any living thing spreading outwards year after year from that moment. And you can’t say the Israelis have been more efficient in their methods either …. simply not true.
      Perhaps if Iran wanted to prove it used the atom only for peaceful things in a ‘safe’ manner, all the rhetoric would finally be given a rest. The problem is, Ayatollas love the same rhetoric. And ‘the people’ either get paranoid listening to it all the time, or tired of it, and that IS the bigger danger.

    2. How ignorant are you??? Do YOU EVEN KNOW WHAT HAPPENED IN THE HOLOCAUST??? 

    3. The antisemitism I see from Anti-Israel Arabs is worse than the average antisemitism of the Germans in the early 20th century.

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