Rabbi Moshe Reuven Azman
Rabbi Moshe Reuven AzmanPhoto: Hezki Ezra

Chief Rabbi of Ukraine, Rabbi Reuven Azman, spoke with Arutz Sheva regarding Jewish community officials’ efforts to defuse the situation in light of MK Yaakov Margi’s (Shas) visit to Crimea.

Margi met with President of the Republic of Crimea, Sergei Aksyonov, who heads a "puppet government" established by the Russian government following its occupation of the peninsula. After the meeting Margi said that the purpose of his visit was to assess the situation of the Jewish community in Crimea.

Foreign Ministry officials say they did not receive advance notice of his trip to Crimea.

Rav Azman said that Margi made a big mistake and caused damage to Israel, saying, "We have no desire to go to war or conflict between Russia and Ukraine. I am working with members of parliament to defuse the situation." Ukrainian officials also sent a threatening message indicating they intend to consider canceling all visas granted to Israelis.

MK Margi’s office said in response that his travel was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Knesset, and was coordinated by the Knesset Foreign Affairs Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, embassies and all other relevant parties.

Knesset spokesperson Yotam Yakir said in response, "This is not a trip by the Knesset and the Knesset was not involved with organization of the trip. MKs travel for work at the invitation of various agencies, the ethics committee only verifies if there are business elements. In this case, MK Margi presented an invitation from the Rabbi of Sevastopol in Russia, Rabbi Binyamin Wolf, who noted that the Jewish community wants to invite the MK and finance his visit."