Ilona Yarmoliuk

Israel rules out recognition of the Holodomor famine in Ukraine of 1932-33 as an act of genocide against Ukrainian people.

Israel's ambassador to Ukraine Zina Kalay-Kleitman has announced this in her interview with the Dzerkalo Tyzhnia newspaper.

"Israel consider genocide only destructions by ethnicity. It was Holocaust, in particular. Thus, Israel could not recognize Holodomor as genocide. The same time Israel consider Holodomor to be a great catastrophe of Ukrainian people," Kalay-Kleitman said.

In her words, this position was repeatedly voiced for the Ukrainian top officials.

She also stated that Israel supports all resolutions of International bodies including UNESCO that affirm Holodomor tragedy not to be repeated again and that it should be studied around the world.

As Ukrainian News earlier reported, Ukraine is appealing for global communities to honor Holodomor of 1932-33.

On September 23, the House of Representatives of the U.S. Congress has recognized the Holodomor of 1932-33 in Ukraine as genocide against the Ukrainian nation.

Yuschenko declared 2008 the Year of Commemoration of the 1932-1933 Holodomor Victims.

In 2006, the Verkhovna Rada declared the 1932-1933 Holodomor an act of genocide against Ukrainians.

Between three million and seven million people died in the 1932-1933 famine in Ukraine, according to various estimates.