Israeli Ambassador To Ukraine Shocked By Decision To Name 2019 Year Of Stepan Bandera

Israeli Ambassador to Ukraine Joel Lion on Thursday said that he was shocked by the decision of Lviv regional administration to name the year 2019 after World War II-era local nationalist leader Stepan Bandera.

TEL AVIV (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 13th December, 2018) Israeli Ambassador to Ukraine Joel Lion on Thursday said that he was shocked by the decision of Lviv regional administration to name the year 2019 after World War II-era local nationalist leader Stepan Bandera.

"I was shocked to hear the decision of the Lviv Oblast declaring 2019 as the Stepan Bandera year.

I cannot understand how the glorification of those directly involved in horrible antisemitic crimes helps fight antisemitism and xenophobia," Lion wrote in his Twitter.

Lion added that Ukraine should not forget about its antisemitic crimes, and "in no way celebrate them through honoring their perpetrators."

On December 11, the Lviv Regional Council announced that 2019 will be named after the leader of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (banned in Russia) Stepan Bandera, whose 110th anniversary will be celebrated next year.