The EAJC condemns the antisemitic statement made by the President of Belarus

On Sunday, June 16, during a meeting with the Council of Ministers, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko questioned officials as to why "more than half" of the individuals on the corruption blacklist "are Jews."

"Excuse me, I am not an antisemite, but more than half are Jews. Do they occupy a privileged position here, stealing and giving no thought to their future?" Lukashenko stated.

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz condemned his remarks as unacceptable and outrageous. The Belarusian Ambassador to Israel was subsequently summoned and handed a formal note of protest.

The Euro-Asian Jewish Congress expresses grave concern and indignation over the statements made by the President of Belarus, deeming such rhetoric unacceptable and highly dangerous, with the potential to trigger a surge in antisemitism. Irrespective of the individual involved, a head of state must refrain from making such remarks. The leadership of the EAJC believes that an apology should be issued for these statements. The Belarusian President’s address, broadcast on major state television channels, bears alarming resemblances to the antisemitic rhetoric of the last century, when being Jewish within the Soviet Union was, at the very least, unsafe, and the country operated under a system of tacit state-sponsored antisemitism.

The EAJC regularly monitors antisemitism across the region and notes with concern a global rise in anti-Jewish sentiment following the outbreak of the war between Israel and the terrorist organization Hamas on October 7, 2023.

"We are witnessing a highly challenging period for our people, both within the State of Israel and beyond its borders. Alongside the terrorist assault on Israel, we have observed intense anti-Israeli sentiment worldwide. This represents a major challenge for our community, and such rhetoric from heads of state remains entirely unacceptable," stated EAJC President Dr. Michael Mirilashvili.