Jerusalem, 27 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Today, Tuesday, January 27, in a historic event, a state ceremony was held in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, a Muslim nation, to mark International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

The ceremony was attended by Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev, diplomats, senior government officials, members of parliament, heads of religious communities and university rectors in Kazakhstan.

The event was held at the initiative of the Israeli Embassy in Kazakhstan together with the German Embassy and under the leadership of the ICIID (Interfaith and Interreligious Dialogue) under the ministry of Culture of Kazakhstan.

“Unfortunately, the ancient disease of anti-Semitism is once again showing its ugly face,” Sa’ar said at the event. “The new anti-Semitism is trying to undermine the right of the Jewish people to defend themselves. We have already seen what happens when we do not have the ability to do so.”

Saa’r went on to remind the world of the antisemitic slaughter in Australia on Hanukah and the October 7 massacre adding, “That is why I say this today, we have sworn – never again! This oath will not be broken. The Jewish state will defend itself vigorously against any threat. We have no other choice. We will fulfill this vow.”

Earlier, Minister Kosherbayev made the following comments: “Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in April 1992, we have built comprehensive cooperation based on mutual respect and trust and achieved significant progress in political, economic and cultural interaction. Your current visit to Astana is a confirmation of our shared interest in elevating our partnership to a new level.”

Gil Tanenbaum

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