Israel recalls ambassador from Poland over property restitution law

The Israeli authorities are recalling the head of the embassy in Poland because of the law on the restitution of property of victims of the Holocaust, the press service of the head of the Foreign Ministry of the Jewish state, Yair Lapid, reported. “Today Poland has adopted, and this is not the first time, an anti-Semitic and immoral law. Tonight, I instructed the head of the embassy in Warsaw to return immediately to Israel for indefinite consultations. The new Israeli ambassador, who was to leave for Warsaw soon, will not go to Poland at this stage, ”said Yair Lapid. In addition, the Israeli Foreign Ministry recommended the Polish Ambassador to Tel Aviv to continue home leave, informs NEWSru Israel.

“He should use the time he has to explain to the Poles how important the Holocaust is for the citizens of Israel. Explain that we will not tolerate even a fraction of the neglect of the memory of the victims and the memory of the Holocaust, ”Lapid said in a statement.

The minister added that, in his opinion, with the adoption of the law, “Poland has turned into an anti-democratic, illiberal country that has no respect for the greatest tragedy in the history of mankind.” He said that Israel is negotiating with the United States on a joint response to Warsaw’s actions.

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett also condemned the restitution law signed by Polish President Andrzej Duda, transfers RIA Novosti.

“Israel is negative about the adoption of a law that prevents Jews from receiving compensation for property stolen from them during the Holocaust, and regrets that Poland has decided to continue harming those who have lost everything. This is a shameful decision and a shameful contempt for the memory of the Holocaust, ”Bennett said in a statement.

The head of government stressed that Israel will not remain indifferent to the actions of the Polish authorities.

Defense Minister Benny Gantz has appealed to the international partners of the Jewish state to condemn Poland’s adoption of a law on restitution. “As the son of Holocaust survivors, I am deeply concerned about Poland’s legislation that effectively obstructs justice for Holocaust victims and their families,” he said. According to the minister, he considers property restitution to be a small but important part of realizing the rights of Holocaust survivors, as well as recognizing those who died at the hands of the Nazis.

The Polish authorities said they would take symmetrical measures in response to the recall of the Israeli ambassador from Warsaw. The Polish Foreign Ministry added that “the steps taken by Israel are causing serious damage to relations between the two countries.” Ministry message quotes TASS.

Earlier, Polish President Andrzej Duda signed a controversial law affecting, among other things, the subject of restitution of property of Jews who suffered from the Nazi regime during World War II. Prior to this, the country’s parliament adopted amendments to the administrative code of Poland, according to which an administrative decision (including the right of ownership of property) cannot be challenged after 30 years from the date of its adoption. The amendments have caused discontent in Israel and the United States, where they believe that the law deprives Jews of the right to return their property lost during the Holocaust, or to receive compensation for it.

Signing the law, Duda said he wanted to end the “era of legal chaos” and “reprivatization mafias” in the country. The President noted that he believes in a state that provides its citizens with protection from injustice. According to him, now millions of Poles allegedly feel a sense of uncertainty.

The Polish leader assured that the adopted law is not aimed at the rights of Jews who suffered from the Nazis. At the same time, Andrzej Duda stressed that he acts not only as the President of Poland, but also as “a person who has never remained indifferent to the Holocaust issues, including for personal reasons.”

The head of state called Poland “the keeper of the memory of the victims of German crimes against Jews” and said that Warsaw would not allow “the instrumentalization of mass extermination for current political purposes.”