Once Donetsk was full of hope, today it is a city without hope

The head of the Jewish Agency (JAFI), and the last fighter for human rights in the Soviet Union, a dissident and a conscientious objector, member of the Moscow Helsinki Group, Natan Sharansky spoke about his attitude toward the events in his native Donetsk:

“It is very sad and very disappointing for me. The beautiful city is destroyed, Donetsk residents suffer. Most of the Jews from this region, we have helped to emigrate to Israel, but a few thousand remain. It is unfortunate that the post-war borders in Europe are trying to change by military means. This is a violation of the Helsinki accords. “

Sharansky said that the last time was in Donetsk in the late 1990s, when he worked in the Israeli government, the Minister of Industry and Trade and flew to Ukraine to sign agreement on economic cooperation with Israel. “Then the city was full of hope, and now it is a city without hope”, – the politician said.

In response to a question about the fact that among immigrants in Israel there are those who support the Ukrainian side, and those who justify the actions of Russia, Sharansky replied diplomatically:

“As head of the” Jewish Agency “I can say the following. We have relations with Jewish communities in Ukraine and in Russia. Mutual accusations of governments of Russia and Ukraine of anti-Semitism and anti-Semitic government policies are unfounded. Despite my criticism of these governments on political issues, we must admit – the attitude of governments to the Jewish community is constructive. Jews in both countries have the opportunity to develop their communities and maintain ties with Israel. Those who want to go to Israel, we can help, and it should be noted that the number of immigrants from Ukraine and from Russia is growing. “

Sourse, 06/10/2016