Dim Amor
A shameful phenomenon is occurring in the Israeli political arena: respected elected officials, in their aspiration to preserve their status and lucrative positions, change their opinions and betray their declared principles with astonishing ease. This phenomenon, called "chameleon politics," is particularly evident in the conduct of Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar and his deputy Sharren Haskel – two politicians who represent an extreme case of shifting positions according to the prevailing political winds.
MK Sharren Haskel "changes opinions like a maid changes gloves"
MK Sharren Haskel has become a symbol of political transformations. Sometimes she supports Likud and Netanyahu, sometimes she strongly opposes them; sometimes she opposes Russia and sees it as a threat, and today, sitting in the coveted position of Deputy Foreign Minister, she does not object to Israel's embassy sitting next to Abu Mazen at the Victory Parade in Moscow. Haskel changes her opinions "like a hotel maid changes gloves" – and all just to sit in her position and receive a hefty salary.
On November 26, 2023, MK Sharren Haskel made statements regarding Russia and international relations with it following the events of October 7, stating among other things that international ties should be severed. When Sharren Haskel became Deputy Foreign Minister – Putin apparently suddenly became kosher, legitimate, and a good person. So good, in fact, that Israel's ambassador sits beside him – and Sharren Haskel remains silent.
Gideon Sa'ar and Sharren Haskel exemplify the phenomenon of "claims, lies, and opinion changes." If a prize were awarded for changing positions according to political winds, they would win first place. They will do anything to cling to the lucrative position that gives them money, role, and status.
Again, Sharren Haskel claimed in the past, many times, that Russia is an enemy and that even severing diplomatic relations with it should be considered. But once she joined the coalition and was appointed Deputy Foreign Minister — suddenly Russia became a legitimate partner. So legitimate that Israel's ambassador will sit "hand in hand with Abu Mazen and with Putin — the murderer and Nazi" at the Victory Parade in Moscow.
In this simple and clear example, MK Sharren Haskel betrayed her values and declared opinions. Perhaps she actually has no opinions at all, and everything is just a game of clowns saying things according to the political winds blowing at that time?
A small study for Gideon Sa'ar and Sharren Haskel: Russia harms Jews
Russia, since 2022, has not only been destroying Ukrainians but also harming Jews and Judaism in Ukraine. According to data from the Federation of Jewish Communities in Ukraine (FJCU), as of September 2022, at least 70 Jews have been killed, about 400 injured, and about 50,000 forced to leave their homes. About 150 Jewish families lost their homes, and 27 out of 180 Jewish communities in the country were under Russian occupation.
Among the dead was Anton (Matthias) Samborsky, son of Rabbi Moshe Azman, who was killed at the front in September 2024. The Federation reported that it assisted in the burial of 47 Jewish soldiers, but the number of casualties may be higher due to lack of information.
In March 2022, in Kharkiv, a rocket or its fragments hit the roof of a Jewish school near the Khobotarska Synagogue. In January 2023, in Odessa, a historic synagogue was damaged by a Russian missile strike, which drew condemnations from Israeli politician Zeev Elkin and the Chief Rabbi of Ukraine, Moshe-Reuven Azman.
Jewish memorial sites were also affected: in March 2022, attacks were recorded on the Babi Yar area – a memorial site for the Holocaust of Kyiv Jews, where thousands of Jews were murdered in 1941. Russian missile fire on the area caused extensive damage. In July 2022, damage to the Jewish cemetery in Kyiv was also reported.
In March 2022, Israel's Ambassador to Ukraine, Michael Brodsky, was injured during an attack in Kyiv. The injury was minor, but the incident highlighted the dangers of war even for Israeli diplomats.
Among the Jewish casualties, the stories of Holocaust survivors who fell victim to the war are particularly notable:
Boris Romanchenko (96) – survivor of four Nazi concentration camps: Buchenwald, Peenemünde, Dora, and Bergen-Belsen. He was killed on March 18, 2022, as a result of Russian shelling of his home in Kharkiv. Ukraine's Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, responded: "Survived Hitler – killed by Putin."
Vanda Semyonovna Obedkova (91) – survived the Mariupol Jewish massacre in 1941 by hiding in a basement. In April 2022, she was forced to hide in a basement again due to Russian shelling – there she died on April 4, cut off from water and heat.
Sonya Leibovna Tartakovskaya (83) – grew up in the city of Irpin near Kyiv, where her relatives perished in the Holocaust. During the war, she remained 20 days without gas, water, and electricity. After being evacuated to Germany, she described how her weight dropped to almost half her normal weight.
Ella Ilyinichna Sinelnikova (90) – a Holocaust survivor from Kharkiv. She experienced the horrors of war again, which left her in deep shock and with a sense of reliving the tragedy.
Four survivors from Kyiv, all over the age of 80, were evacuated to Israel in March 2022 through the Israeli charity organization Yad Ezer L'Chaver. They were taken through the city of Mostyska in Poland, where they received primary medical care from Israeli medical teams.
These tragic events illustrate how for many Ukrainian Holocaust survivors, the 2022 war represented a return to the horrors of the past.
Jews of Ukraine: The heritage that Sa'ar and Haskel ignore
The entire essence of the State of Israel is to protect Jews, but Ukrainian Jews are apparently "type Z" in the eyes of Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar and MK Sharren Haskel. Israel sends its ambassador to shake hands with and embrace the "killer of Jews" – if we were in the Nazi Germany era, it would be like sitting with Hitler.
Ukrainian Jews have made an enormous contribution to Jewish heritage and the State of Israel. Among the prominent figures who operated in Ukraine or originated from there:
Golda Meir – Prime Minister of Israel, born in Kyiv
Leon Trotsky (Lev Bronstein) – Jewish revolutionary leader, born in Ukraine
The Baal Shem Tov (Rabbi Israel ben Eliezer) – founder of the Hasidic movement, active mainly in Medzhybizh
Rabbi Nachman of Breslov – founder of Breslov Hasidism, grandson of the Baal Shem Tov, buried in the city of Uman
The Seer of Lublin – one of the successors of the Baal Shem Tov
Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi – founder of Chabad Hasidism, which was very active in Ukraine
Rabbi Chaim of Chernovitz ("The Little Wise Zvi") – one of the great preachers and Kabbalists
Rabbi David of Lelov – one of the fathers of Lelov Hasidism, which also operated in regions of Ukraine
Rabbi Yitzchak of Berditchev – "Defender of Israel," a very beloved figure in Hasidism
Sholem Aleichem – important Jewish writer, born in Polonne, near Kyiv
Levi Yitzchak of Astrakhan (Berditchev) – poet and thinker
Shlomo Carlebach – although he grew up in the USA, his family originated from Ukraine
Ichak Adizes – world-renowned management consultant, from a Ukrainian family
Embarrassing documentation: The lies and reversals of Haskel and Sa'ar
Meticulous documentation of Sharren Haskel and Gideon Sa'ar's statements over the years reveals the speed of their changing opinions regarding Russia:
Sharren Haskel, May 1, 2018: "With the celebration of Labor Day on May 1, when socialism is glorified, it's important to remember Jabotinsky's teaching: the solution to social problems is the liberal perspective regarding the natural rights of humans, as humans – each individual is a king. We must not forget that communism and the idea of 'redistributing wealth' led to mass murder and created chaos instead of equality. Victims not only in soul, but also side effects that affect culture, society, and economy in countries with communist roots to this day."
"The only key to a free and just society is personal, economic, and national freedom. Only walking the path of free market, deregulation, reduction of bureaucracy and government intervention, will lead to a growing and thriving economy and equal opportunities for all."
Sharren Haskel, July 12, 2019: "#Identity_voters – I need you with me, in the Likud. To fight for our values, national and liberal. Identity did not pass the electoral threshold and even without the current mess (and probably not the last) it's doubtful whether it will pass in the upcoming elections. Likud is the only party to promote liberalism in the State of Israel and I need you with me."
Sharren Haskel, June 6, 2024: "This week I came to speak and brief Canadian politicians and members of parliament in Ottawa and Toronto regarding the war in Israel… Iran, Russia, China, and North Korea have joint military exercises, there is no doubt that the crocodile will not spare the hand that feeds it… Explanatory actions must rise to other levels to compete with enemy propaganda."
Sharren Haskel, December 20, 2021 to DemocratTV: "MK Sharren Haskel from 'New Hope' tells Lucy Aharish and DemocratTV her opinion on Opposition Chairman Benjamin Netanyahu's videos, who has reached a low point and now stands in line with anti-Israeli organizations that spread libel about the State of Israel."
Gideon Sa'ar, September 20, 2018: "Russia and Iran are allies in Syria. They cooperated to keep Assad in power. This does not mean, of course, that all their interests in Syria overlap. But certainly a Russian interest is required to confront the Iranian policy of establishing itself in Syria (which continues)."
Gideon Sa'ar, October 13, 2016: "The Russian vote today at UNESCO is another confirmation of Moscow's anti-Israeli line. Also in Syria, Russian involvement, alongside Iran and for Assad, is contrary to Israeli interests."
On May 9, 2025, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar is sending Israel's ambassador to Russia to stand alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin: the same Putin who adopted a hostile policy toward the Jewish and Ukrainian population, granted patronage to the Hamas terrorist organization, and following the horrific massacre that took place on October 7, even hosted senior members of the terrorist organization at his official residence in Moscow. The same Putin under whose leadership, just a year ago, anti-Semitic acts of violence and severe pogroms occurred at the airport and synagogues were burned in Russia.
Hypocrites? Yes! Very hypocritical.
The media circus: When we tried to get a response from Haskel
As part of preparing this article, we tried to get MK Sharren Haskel's position regarding the Victory Parade in Russia and the fact that Israel will participate alongside supporters of terrorism. We sent a detailed inquiry to MK Sharren Haskel on April 14, 2025, in which we detailed the arguments against Israel's participation in the parade, including:
Russia provides legitimacy to Hamas and hosts its delegations in Moscow since the October 7 attack
Russia provides military and political support to Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran
The Russian government refuses to recognize Hamas and Hezbollah as terrorist organizations
Russia unilaterally declared recognition of a Palestinian state and opened a Palestinian embassy in Moscow
Russian-made weapons were used by Hamas in the murder of Israeli citizens
After the October 7 attack, Russia did not condemn Hamas's actions and even justified them
In Russian state-run media channels, Jews and Israelis are portrayed in an anti-Semitic light
In the 21st century, anti-Semitic acts of violence were recorded in Russia
As part of its war in Ukraine, Russia is responsible for injuries to Jews and Holocaust survivors
Russia is committing ongoing war crimes and illegal annexation of territories in Ukraine
Putin's regime violates basic human rights, persecutes LGBTQ+, journalists, and artists
After receiving the inquiry, MK Haskel asked to refer us to her spokesperson. We sent another inquiry to the spokesperson on April 14, 2025, and here began what can be called a "media circus." The spokesperson reported that Haskel was preparing a response, then there were holidays, then we were referred to the general spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry.
On April 24, 2025, after repeated inquiries, the spokesperson stated: "Hey, Sharren did not ignore your inquiry. As I told you in our conversation, you should contact the ministry's spokesperson because specifically this issue was not handled personally by Sharren, and also in the briefing for foreign journalists this week when she was asked about the topic – the question was directed to the ministry's spokesperson who provided an answer for the reason I mentioned. If the ministry did not respond to you, I would be happy to help and ask them to respond to your question. And regarding the deputy, if you still want her response, I'll pass it to her and we'll be in touch."
On the same day, the spokesperson added in a message: "I passed the inquiry to her, we'll send you a response soon."
In the end, Sharren Haskel did not send anything – she only lied.
We sent the same inquiry to the Foreign Minister, Mr. Gideon Sa'ar, but it did not receive any response from him.
The truth behind the parade: Israel alongside Hamas supporters
Meanwhile, Israel will indeed participate in the Victory Parade on May 9 in Russia. Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Oren Marmorstein, told the "Ma'akav" editorial team: "There is no change from previous years, as in all recent years, Israel is represented at the parade by Israel's ambassador to Russia."
In other words, Israel will sit together with murderers and Hamas supporters. Why "Hamas supporters"? Because Russia supports Hamas economically and with weapons, and sees it as a "political organization fighting for freedom." Israel will sit with a murderer who destroyed Ukrainian Jews and Ukrainians.
On April 15, 2025, an article was published on the subject under the headline: "Disgrace: Gideon Sa'ar sends Israeli representatives to celebrate with Hamas supporters. Israel kisses the murderer: the shame of the May 9 parade with terrorism supporter Putin – will our ambassador sit alongside Hamas representatives or supporters in Moscow?", to read the article – click here.
The article demanded that Israel cancel its participation in the "propaganda event of a dictator whose hands are stained with the blood of many people." According to information published in Russia, Israel was invited to the parade, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not participate in it. Instead, Israel will be represented by its ambassador to Russia, Simona Halperin.
An open and sharp letter was sent to Minister Gideon Sa'ar, MK Sharren Haskel, and Israel's ambassador to Russia, Simona Halperin, demanding that Israel cancel its participation in the parade.
The price of inconsistency
Putin's hands are stained with blood – the blood of murdered Ukrainian Jews, Israelis suffering from Hamas, LGBTQ+ individuals murdered in Chechnya, and journalists murdered in their attempt to tell the truth. His hands are also stained with blood from his wars in Georgia, Wagner's activities in Africa and Syria, and from the blood of hundreds of thousands of dead and wounded in Ukraine.
It is absurd that on May 9, Israeli representatives will sit with Putin at his false "parade." Will they also sit alongside dictator Lukashenko and Hamas representatives?
It's important to emphasize: there is no disrespect for May 9. This is an important day, Victory Day over the Nazis, and we should remember and honor this day. However, there is no need to sit with a dictator to honor an important historical day.
The question arises: how can Israel sit together with Hamas supporters and killers of the Ukrainian people and Ukrainian Jews?
There is a limit to cooperation with someone who admires Hitler. Putin must understand that he is unwelcome and unacceptable in democracies.
Instead of honoring the memory of millions of Soviet citizens who died in the war against the Nazis, Putin has turned Victory Day into a celebration of nationalism and self-glorification.
The decision to participate in the May 9 parade goes beyond a technical question of diplomatic representation. It is a value-based decision that touches the core of Israeli identity. Can the State of Israel, which arose from the ashes of the Holocaust, participate in an event alongside a regime that supplies weapons to organizations calling for its destruction? Can the Jewish community in Israel and the world stand by while its representatives give legitimacy to a state that supports its sworn enemies?
Israel is at a historic turning point. It cannot dance at two weddings – fighting terrorism and simultaneously fraternizing with its supporters. It cannot demand international solidarity in the face of threats.
Photos from Gideon Sa'ar and Sharren Haskel's Facebook pages; Putin's photo – from the Kremlin website. Graphics: "Ma'akav"
For photos, videos, images, etc. in the Hebrew article – click here
