The central event of the Fifth World Holocaust Forum in Jerusalem took place on Thursday, with dozens of world leaders in attendance to mark the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz death camp.
Israeli President Reuven Rivlin was the first dignitaries to speak, saying he was going to speak in Hebrew rather than English because of the special event.
"Thank you for your solidarity, and for remembering those who perished," he told world leader. "Today we also remember that the international community worked together then, in World War II, and we must do the same today in the face of radical forces," he continued.
"We, too, are here standing as kings, leaders and statesmen in @YadVashem in Jerusalem to remember and never forget," @ruvirivlin says. #UnitedinMemory75
— Israel Hayom English (@IsraelHayomEng) January 23, 2020
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his job as prime minister, his ultimate job is to prevent another Holocaust and to ensure that "this is not an empty slogan, but a constant imperative."
"The Jewish people have learned the lessons of the #Holocaust - to take seriously the threats of those who seek our destruction," @netanyahu. #UnitedinMemory75 "Israel must ALWAYS remain the master of our fate."
— Israel Hayom English (@IsraelHayomEng) January 23, 2020
He further said that the Holocaust would not happen today because the Jews were no longer defenseless and have the means to fend off threats.
"For many, Auschwitz is the ultimate symbol of evil, but for Jews, it's more than the symbol of evil – it's also the symbol of Jewish powerlessness. The culmination of what happens when our people have no voice, no land and no shield," he said. "But today we have a voice, we have a land, and we have a shield."
Netanyahu further reiterated the dangers of ignoring Iran's nuclear program calling it the "most anti-Semitic regime in the world."
"I call on all governments to join the efforts in confronting Iran," @netanyahu urges. "#Israel will do whatever it must do to defend its people and the #Jewish future." #UnitedinMemory75
— Israel Hayom English (@IsraelHayomEng) January 23, 2020
Following Netanyahu, Russian President Vladimir Putin took the podium, saying that the Holocaust "is a tragedy we will never forget." He said that some of the Nazi collaborators were worse than the Nazis themselves, recalling the many Jews that were murdered under Nazi-occupied areas of the Soviet Union.
"We all bear the responsibility that tragedies don't repeat themselves. We must remember the siege of Leningrad, and Babi Yair, when the first signs of anti-Semitism reared its ugly head; we can't ignore it. We must do everything in our power to protect the peace," he continued.
US Vice President Mike Pence said that "on this occasion, we gather to fulfill the solemn obligation, the obligation of remembrance," adding the word "remember" is a constant obligation of every generation.
"We remember the dark stain of human history, the worst evil ever perpetuated," he continued, before praising those who survived the Holocaust.
"We must be prepared to stand as they did, against the wave of their time, we must expose the vile tide of anti-Semitism that is spewing hate all across the world, and in the same spirit and we must stand strong against the leading state-purveyor of Holocaust, against the country that wants to wipe Israel off the map, against the Islamic Republic of Iran," he said.
@VP: We must stand strong against the leading state purveyor of anti-semitism, the one government in the world who denies the Holocaust: the world must stand strong against the Islamic Republic of #Iran.#UnitedinMemory75
— Israel Hayom English (@IsraelHayomEng) January 23, 2020
"The American people have been with you every step of the way since 1948 and so we will remain!" he said, drawing a round of applause.
After concluding his speech, Rivlin and Netanyahu stood up to shake his hand and praised him for his strong support of Israel. President Emmanuel Macron of France also got up to shake his hand.
Prince Charles made sure to mention the UK's deep commitment to fighting anti-Semitism and his own family history of saving Jews, recalling that his grandmother Princess Alice saved Jews in Nazi-occupied Athens.
"We must never forget that this is also our story – a story of incomprehensible inhumanity. An evil that can't be described doesn't mean it can't be defeated or fully understood or overcome," he said.
Prince Charles: If we don't make the connection between past atrocities and the present, there is no point to it. The Holocaust must never be a mere fact in history. The lessons of the Holocaust are still relevant today.#UnitedinMemory75
— Israel Hayom English (@IsraelHayomEng) January 23, 2020
"Let us recommit ourselves to tolerance and respect and that those who lived through this darkness will forever be a light unto the nations and guide the generations that follow," he said, quoting the prophet Isaiah.
Prince Charles: We must never forget that every human being is k'olam maleh (like an entire universe). #UnitedinMemory75
— Israel Hayom English (@IsraelHayomEng) January 23, 2020
Holocaust survivors in attendance at the event along with the high-level officials. Pence and Putin arrived early Thursday, a day after dozens of the world leaders converged on Jerusalem.
Israel's President @PresidentRuvi greeting one of the #Holocaust survivors, who is 100 years old, attending the World Holocaust Forum at @yadvashem #Jerusalem #WHF2020JLM #WeRemember #unitedinmemory75 #NeverAgain #Auschwitz75 #WorldHolocaustForum pic.twitter.com/6reOxSmuHS
— David Saranga (@DavidSaranga) January 23, 2020
Even Russian astronauts Oleg Skripochka and Alexsandr Skvortsov made sure to pay tribute to the six million Jews who were murdered in the Holocaust, pausing their work at the International Space Station to mark International Holocaust Remembrance Day (which officially takes place next week).
The two cosmonauts appeared for a zero-gravity photo with the caption: "We Remember."
Commemorating the Holocaust... from outer space. Astronauts with @roscosmos dedicated the time to take #WeRemember photos in solidarity against all forms of xenophobia for International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
With special thanks to the Russian Jewish Congress. pic.twitter.com/H5KOjqHZ1m
— WJC (@WorldJewishCong) January 22, 2020
Earlier Thursday, Netanyahu and Putin inaugurated a memorial for those who fought the Nazi siege of Leningrad during World War II.
WATCH LIVE: Russian President Putin and Prime Minister Netanyahu dedicate the monument in memory of the heroism of the soldiers and residents of Leningrad during the siege in World War II, at Sachar Park in Jerusalem. 🇮🇱🇷🇺#UnitedinMemory75
https://t.co/AQv1cqWXuX— PM of Israel (@IsraeliPM) January 23, 2020
On Wednesday, Rivlin hosted his counterparts and other high-level officials at his residence for a state banquet, during which he called on them to fight anti-Semitism with action, not just words.
He also urged the various countries to put aside their differences regarding the proper way for remembering the tragedies of World War II and the Holocaust, saying that "history should be left to historians."
You can watch the main event at Yad Vashem below and on our Facebook page.
