Response to Russian Communist Party Leader-s Condemnation of Zionism

(Communicated by the Foreign Ministry Spokesman)
24 December 1998

The Foreign Ministry today (Thursday) 24.12.98 issued the following response to the remarks made by Russian Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov:

The remarks made by Mr. Zyuganov with regard to the nature and objectives of Zionism are in line with the slanders of the "Protocols of the Elders of Zion", and certainly are incompatible with his claim that his party supports the construction of a democratic society in Russia. His remarks demonstrate his complete ignorance of the true nature and objectives of Zionism.

Israel utterly condemns, and expresses its disgust at these antisemitic statements, which do not contribute to good relations between the Russian and Jewish peoples. Israel expresses its hope that the Russian authorities will find an appropriate way to deal with this gravely worrying phenomenon.