Chinese ambassador to Israel compares coronavirus travel bans to Holocaust, faces flak

China’s acting ambassor to Israel stoked controversy when he compared travel ban imposed by several countries, with turning away of Jewish refugees during Holocaust. Speaking to reporters in Tel Aviv, ambassor Dai Yuming said that entry ban on Chinese citizens due to coronavirus reminded him of World War II and Holocaust.

Dai said that very few countries, including China, opened door for Jews when y sought refuge from or countries. Later, Chinese Embassy in Israel issued an apology and said that re was intention to compare dark days of Holocaust with current situation.

“We would like to apologise if someone understood our mess wrong way,” said embassy in a statement.

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Critical of travel bans

China has been critical of countries, especially United States, for evacuating its citizens and imposing a travel ban with highest level of alert. Following anuncement of global health emergency, US Department of State h ordered departure of all family members under 21 of government officials in China. In a travel visory issued on February 2, department urged travellers to be prepared for possibility of travel restrictions with little or vance tice.

“Most commercial air carriers have reduced or suspended routes to and from China. Those currently in China should attempt to depart by commercial means,” visory re.

“We strongly urge U.S. citizens remaining in China to stay home as much as possible and limit contact with ors, including large garings,” it ded.

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China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said US overreacted to situation and created panic among people by withdrawing some embassy staff and imposing a travel ban on all visitors from China. spokesperson to MFA, in a tweet, said that y understand reasonable quarantine measures based on WHO visory but oppose “excessive measures” that “unnecessarily interfere” with international travel.

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(With inputs from ncies)