Israeli President shocked by anti-Semitism at Virginia rally, stands with American Jews

Rivlin expressed shock over anti-Semitism displayed at a recent US white supremacist rally, but said American leaders would succeed in dealing with “this difficult challenge.”

Israeli President Reuven Rivlin expressed his “support and solidarity” in a letter to Malcolm Hoenlein, executive vice chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations and the wider American Jewish community.

“The very idea that in our time we would see a Nazi flag – perhaps the most vicious symbol of anti-Semitism – paraded in the streets of the world’s greatest democracy, and Israel’s most cherished and greatest ally is almost beyond belief,” Rivlin wrote in the missive.

“We have seen manifestations of anti-Semitism again and again arise across the world; in Europe and the Middle East. In the face of such evil, we stand now as we did then….With faith in humanity, with faith in democracy, and with faith in justice. I know that the great nation of the United States of America and its leaders will know how to face this difficult challenge, and prove to the world the robustness and strength of democracy and freedom.”

Rivlin’s statements come amid heightened racial tensions in the US following the events in Charlottesville, Virginia, last weekend, which saw one women killed and at least 19 injured when a car driven by a white supremacist plowed into a crowd of people protesting a rally organized by white supremacists and neo-Nazis.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also condemned the issue Tuesday, tweeting that he was “outraged by expressions of anti-Semitism, neo-Nazism and racism. Everyone should oppose this hatred.”

By: JNS.org