Freund: Hamas is the Islamic version of the Ustashas; Israel made a mistake by recognizing the independence of Kosovo

Hamas is the Islamic version of the Ustashas, a threat to civilization, and as such, it must be destroyed", Michael Freund, the President of the Association of Jewish-Serbian Friendship, a well-known journalist, and a former advisor to Benjamin Netanyahu, says in an interview with Kosovo Online.

Freund, speaking from New York for Kosovo Online, also states that Israel made a mistake by recognizing Kosovo's independence and warns that a war between Israel and Hamas could escalate. He believes that the spread of Islamic extremism poses a threat to every European country.

At this moment, all of his sons are in the Israel Defense Forces.

"I've been blessed with five sons and all of them are in the army. Four of them are in the combat reserve, and one is in the north on the border with Lebanon, where there has been a lot of action against Hezbollah. Very tough times, obviously for me as a father, many sleepless nights, but at the same time, I'm very proud of them and their dedication to the country and defending our people and Israel", Freund says.

Is there a danger that the conflict in the Middle East will spread, that it will turn into something more than just a war between Israel and Hamas?

There is a chance that the war will spread. We have to remember that Hamas is a proxy of Iran, which has many proxy groups like Hezbollah, or the Houthis in Yemen who also target Israel with rockets. Iran supports various militias in Iraq and Syria that attack US troops. Iran is very interested in escalating things. We don't know how things will turn out, but one thing is clear. Israel did not choose war, Hamas invaded Israel on October 7th and committed the largest massacre of Jews in one day since the Holocaust. The barbarism, the horrors they committed, whether it's rape, beheading babies, burning whole families alive, kidnapping children and those who survived the Holocaust, it's not something that any country in the world would tolerate, not even Israel. Simply put, Hamas is the Islamic version of the Ustashas. The likes of Al Qaeda and the Islamic State are a danger to civilization and just as the Ustashas, Al Qaeda and the Islamic State had to be destroyed, so will Hamas be destroyed. I am also aware of the fact that during World War II, the Albanians in Kosovo fought on the side of the Nazis. And it's something that has largely been pushed aside by the media and historians who have done it for political reasons. That is why it is important for the Jews and the Serbs to make an effort to educate, especially the young generation, to educate them about the truth about the Holocaust, who was on the side of good and who was on the side of evil in good and evil and also to double our efforts to explain what happened is a reality in the Middle East and the Balkans.

We have seen many civilian casualties in this conflict. Who is responsible?

Hamas bears full responsibility for any deaths on both sides. Hamas started the war and is using the Palestinians in Gaza as human shields. They are hiding in schools and hospitals and all the destruction is entirely their responsibility. Israel is still burying and mourning the 1,400 people who were slaughtered. Now there is no room for calls for a ceasefire because that would be the message - let's leave Hamas alone to arm itself and kill more innocent people. That will not happen, the only ceasefire can happen when Hamas ceases to exist.

Can this conflict "ignite" the rest of the world's hotspots, is the Balkans also in danger?

The spread of Islamic extremism is something that threatens every country in Europe and most of the Western world. There are many interesting historical parallels between Serbia and Israel. Small countries surrounded by enemy forces, which were occupied and conquered throughout history. However, the Jews and the Serbs are strong and determined peoples; we will not stand by while others try to destroy us. During the Holocaust, the Serbs and the Jews died together at the hands of the Ustashas and Germans. Now is the time for the Serbs and the Jews to live together and support each other. I have been following the news about Kosovo and I see how the international media, which reports biased against Israel, is also biased against Serbia in the same pattern. They do not tell the truth, do not consider the historical context, and spread the propaganda of Pristina. But, as we know, Kosovo is the cradle of Serbian civilization, it is for Serbia what Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria are for Israel. Our peoples must stand by each other.

Did Israel make a mistake by recognizing the independence of Kosovo?

Absolutely. Shortly after that decision, which was made under heavy US pressure because Israel had refused to recognize Kosovo for many years, I wrote a strong article in The Jerusalem Post criticizing the Government for doing so. It was an insult to history, justice, and morality. We hope to persuade the Israeli Government to reconsider and withdraw its recognition of the so-called Kosovo independence.

Belgrade has hosted two Israeli basketball clubs - Maccabi and Hapoel. How do you view this gesture?

I think it was a beautiful gesture, a sign of deep friendship between two countries and two peoples. As a Jew, I can say that I have been to many European capitals, and as a deeply religious man who always wears a yarmulke, I have often not felt comfortable due to antisemitism in many places. When I walked the streets of Belgrade and elsewhere, day or night, I never experienced antisemitism, quite the opposite. The Serbs told me how much they admired the Jews and how much they loved Israel, and that meant a lot to me personally. Serbia serves as a model for the rest of Europe in this regard.

How and when will this war end?

It will end when Hamas is eliminated, and its infrastructure is destroyed. The Israeli Government has spoken about a process that may take months, maybe even longer. Over the years, Hamas has received billions of dollars from abroad, and instead of using them to improve the lives of Palestinians, they spent the money on rockets and tunnels hundreds of kilometers long, which they used in attacks on Israel. It will take time and patience to dismantle Hamas's infrastructure, and at the same time, we must keep our eyes open because it's possible that Iran and its allies may try to open new fronts and perhaps even turn this into a regional war. I am confident that our goal is correct, and I am confident that with God's help, Israel will prevail. While Hamas may have initiated the war, Israel will finish it.