Ukraine's Ambassador to Israel Yevgen Korniychuk has informed Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's office Kyiv views planned Victory Day celebrations as problematic , Israel Hayom has learned.
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By law, Israel marks the Nazis' surrender in World War II on May 9th, a date first selected by then-Russian leader Josef Stalin and accepted by some former Soviet states, including Ukraine. In the West, the liberation of Europe is marked on May 8th.
In a conversation with Israel Hayom, Korniychuk said he told PMO officials: "For Ukraine, marking the liberation on the date determined by the Russians would be a provocative step. I emphasize that I do not interfere in Israeli domestic affairs and the legal status is clear to me. We also used to mark the ninth of May. But this year, in light of what is happening, we also turn to our veterans and say that for us, the date is problematic, and we want to mark the victory on May 8th, as is accepted in the West."
According to the ambassador, the PMO has yet to make a decision on the matter, which is under examination.
According to Israeli law, the date of festivities can only be changed if they fall on Shabbat or holidays. Any change to the date for another reason, and certainly in response to a Ukrainian request, is expected to influence Israel-Russia ties.
In a statement, the PMO responded by saying: "The Prime Minister's Office received a request on the subject from the Ukrainian ambassador in Israel. The ambassador was directed to continue the conversation with Housing and Construction Minister Ze'ev Elkin, as the minister handled the legislation determining the marking of Victory Day over the Nazis in the past and was deeply involved in ties between the countries."
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