Duda: Poles helped Jews in the Holocaust and today admire Israel

Poland’s President Duda says Poles tried to help Jews during the Holocaust.

Despite the Nazi occupation, “Poles nevertheless helped. The Polish resistance group Zegota helped Jews. Many of my compatriots helped individually. They’re the heroes of both our nations.”

“Polin, blessed land which for centuries welcomed Jews fleeing persecution from abroad, turned into a place of Holocaust.”

Polish officials even tried to warn Western governments of the Holocaust, he says, but “our calls fell on deaf ears” in Britain and the United States.

“Today it is us, contemporary Poles, carrying on the duty of remembering the Holocaust. Polish authorities take care of the sites.”

“My presence here today, together with President Reuven Rivlin, is a sign of tribute by the Republic of Poland to the memory of the German genocide.”

“Since 1988, Polish institutions have supported the March of the Living.”

“Memory and truth have made both our nations realize it’s necessary to have a strong state, the only entity that can ensure our security. We’ve always fought alongside Jews. Today we look with respect, admiration, and affinity at the state of Israel, which is celebrating the 70th anniversary of its declaration of independence.”

Israel’s “existence, strength, and sovereignty are the ultimate proof that the Nazi annihilation plan failed. The Jewish nation survived, may no one ever lift their hand to it again.”