So the Jewish leaders in Ukraine have called the leaflet a hoax

[karynnj]

90. Kerry's comments in context

However, here is what Kerry actually said as given in the FULL TEXT of the remarks:

The parties agreed today that all sides must refrain from the use of violence, intimidation, or provocative actions. And we strongly condemned and rejected all expressions of extremism, racism, and religious intolerance, including anti-Semitism.

Let me say a quick word about that. Just in the last couple of days, notices were sent to Jews in one city indicating that they had to identify themselves as Jews. And obviously, the accompanying threat implied is – or threatened – or suffer the consequences, one way or the other.

In the year 2014, after all of the miles traveled and all of the journey of history, this is not just intolerable; it’s grotesque. It is beyond unacceptable. And any of the people who engage in these kinds of activities, from whatever party or whatever ideology or whatever place they crawl out of, there is no place for that. And unanimously, every party today joined in this condemnation of that kind of behavior.

In addition, recently, the Ukrainian – the Russian Orthodox Church members in Ukraine were threatened that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church was somehow going to attack them in the course of the next days. That kind of behavior, that kind of threat, has no place. And all parties agreed that that kind of behavior is not just grotesque and unacceptable, but it will not stand the test of the direction that Ukraine wants to move in.

http://www.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2014/04/224947.htm

Note that Kerry is condemning ALL attacks - Note that speaking of Russian Orthodox Church members being threatened that the Ukrainian church would attack them that he uses the same words "grotesque and unacceptable". In both cases, he does not state who has made the threats - just that they have been made and used to intimidate.

Don't you agree that given that BOTH sides have had a history of bad behavior towards minorities that it should be condemned? Not to mention, one of the demands of the Russians was that the rights of (at least some - ie the Russian speaking) minorities be protected. What Ukraine is agreeing to do is to enact the reforms that protect the minorities. From the reports of Lavrov's comments, he too spoke of ending these behaviors as well.

I am Jewish and my husband's maternal grandmother and grandfather immigrated from near Odessa. Years ago, in Hebrew school, my kids all learned of life in the shtetls and the pograms. That the Ukrainians have a very bad history is not questionable. The same though is true of the Russians.

At this point, especially if these steps laid out in Geneva are actually taken, it is possible - that like Germany - Ukraine may confront their past or at least begin to teach that these actions against any group - whether religious, ethnic or anything else are as Kerry said "grotesque".


There is a problem with this happening no matter who wrote or put out the fliers. Note that Kerry does not say they were sent out by the pro Russians or by anyone else. It is a problem that this is happening and happening on a regular basis.