- Title: JERUSALEM-KLITSCHKO Kiev mayor visits Israel holocaust memorial
- Date: 2nd November 2014
- Summary: JERUSALEM (NOVEMBER 2, 2014) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF KIEV MAYOR, VITALY KLITSCHKO, LOOKING AT HALL OF NAMES IN YAD VASHEM HOLOCAUST MUSEUM HALL OF NAMES VARIOUS OF KLITSCHKO WALKING AROUND MUSEUM WITH OFFICIAL (SOUNDBITE) (English) MAYOR OF KIEV, VITALY KLITSCHKO, SAYING: "I am very impressed to be here in the museum, to listen more information about Second World War, about genocide, about anti-Semitism and about many stories which happened with Jewish people. I am very impressed." WOMEN STANDING KLITSCHKO AND OFFICIALS ON ESCALATOR
- Embargoed: 17th November 2014 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Jerusalem
- City:
- Country: Israel
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA56LQTAYIWHDIURO2VTFOEJCB4
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- Story Text: Vitaly Klitschko said he was "very impressed" as he toured Yad Vashem, Israel's official memorial to the victims of the Holocaust, in Jerusalem on Sunday (November 2).
During his visit, the former world heavyweight boxing champion-turned politician took part in a memorial ceremony in the Hall of Remembrance and signed a special guest book.
"I am very impressed to be here in the museum, to listen more information about Second World War, about genocide, about anti-Semitism and about many stories which happened with Jewish people. I am very impressed," he said.
Klitschko became mayor of Kiev in May, clinching a major role in Ukraine's emerging new political order.
He was one of the three main leaders of the Maidan protesters during the uprising which ousted President Viktor Yanukovich in February, after his attempt to move Ukraine closer to Russia and away from Europe.
Israel has previously played down suggestions that anti-Semitism in Ukraine is linked to Kiev's stand-off with Russia, offering a more measured assessment than the Kremlin or the United States as it avoids taking sides in the East-West confrontation.
The issue was recently raised when, in April, a city in eastern Ukraine with a strong pro-Russian movement saw Jews handed leaflets using language reminiscent of the Holocaust.
Moscow then aimed allegations of anti-Semitism against the pro-Western Ukrainian government.
Anti-Semitism remains a feature of militant nationalism in both Ukraine and Russia.
Once home to a large Jewish population that was devastated by the Holocaust, Ukraine saw a rise in attacks on Jews and on synagogues during the unrest that saw the overthrow of Kiev's Kremlin-backed President.
The attacks were blamed on Ukrainian far-right groups.
The Jewish state has tried to keep out of the crisis, wary of upsetting its crucial U.S. ally or Russia, which is influential in the Middle East flashpoints Iran and Syria.
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