Hours before the beginning of Holocaust Remembrande Day (Yom HaShoah in Hebrew), Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said that the "lessons of the Holocaust have not been learned."
"A renewed anti-Semitism is spreading. Various forces are joining together and flooding the world with anti-Semitism. The hatred of Jews and the denial of their existence have turned into hatred of the Jewish State and denial of its existence," Netanyahu said at the weekly cabinet meeting.
His comments came as a Tel Aviv University report shows that incidents of anti-Semitic nature worldwide fell sharply in 2010 compared to the previous year, but the numbers rose overall over the past decade and dangerous trends remains.
Netanyahu said that the government decided to form an organization that will represent Holocaust survivors.
At sunset on Sunday, Israel was to begin its observance of Holocaust Day, running into Monday when the nation comes to a standstill for two minutes of silence to remember the six million Jews murdered by the Nazis and accomplices.
"Peace is possible only with those who want to live in peace alongside us and not with those who want to destroy us,” also said in a reference to the Palestinian unity agreement between Hamas and Fatah.
“Israel extends its hand in peace to all peoples of the region, to all of our neighbors that aspire to live alongside us in peace, and will stand steadfast against whoever tries to attack us and endanger our existence. I will deliver this clear message to world capitals, and especially to European leaders, during my visits to London and Paris this week," he added.
Beginning at sundown May 9 and ending at sundown on May 10, Israelis will celebrate their country’s 63nd Independence Day, known as Yom Ha’Atzmaut in Hebrew.