To try and summarize:
Russia is meanwhile positioning itself as the defender of Ukrainian Jews.
- Russia announced it invaded Ukraine to fight the antisemitic (and anti-Russian) opposition. The Russian foreign ministry later slammed the US for turning a blind eye to the "rampant Russophobia and anti-Semitism" of the Ukrainian protesters.
- Russian news media joined in, claiming that Ukraine recently foiled a neo-Nazi terror plot against an important Jewish pilgrimage site. There has been no further confirmation.
- This two-sided approach can be seen in Putin's recent press conference, in which he defended Jews in the Ukraine while slamming its Jewish oligarchs.
- Incidentally (or not), the antisemitic Canadian think-tank CRG (Centre for Research on Globalization) is doing exactly the same. Inciting against the anti-Russian Jews, while claiming to really care about increasing antisemitism in Ukraine.
But are Ukrainian Jews really suffering from increased antisemitism? Depends who you ask.
- The question was the topic of a recent discussion on CNN.
- Jews who participated in the protests say whatever antisemitic incidents took place had been exaggerated, and might well be the work of anti-Ukrainian forces. The same sentiment was repeated by Rabbi Yaakov Dov Bleich, a chief rabbi of Ukraine, who says the Russian are staging antisemitic attacks.
But others believe the Maidan was full of Nazis. - Haaretz points out that the Jews have a new dilemma on their hands. The original Hebrew-language article called it a "cruel dilemma", which I think is more appropriate.
- A Russian Jewish leader urged his coreligionists in Ukraine not to get involved and escalate matters. "Jews and rabbis should stay away from politics."
- Ukraine’s top negotiator with the Crimean government invited “any international organization” to come to Ukraine and see the situation for themselves.
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