Polish PM slams Israel’s ‘shameful’ response to Holocaust restitution law

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki hits back at Israel’s furious response to a law that effectively prevents Jewish heirs of property seized by the Nazis during World War II from reclaiming it.

“Israel’s decision to lower the rank of the diplomatic representation in Warsaw is groundless and irresponsible, and the words of [Foreign Minister] Yair Lapid… raise the outrage of every honest person,” Morawiecki says in a Facebook post.

“No one who knows the truth about the Holocaust and the suffering of Poland during World War II can agree to such a way of conducting politics,” he argues. “Using this tragedy for the needs of partisan interests is shameful and irresponsible. If the Israeli government continues to attack Poland in this way, it will have a very negative impact on our relations – both bilateral and those in the international arena,” he warns.

Morawiecki also denounces Jerusalem’s “attack on the Polish ambassador, Marek Magierowski, who for three years has been working on the spot to build good relations between our nations. The consequence of the recent aggressive actions of the Israeli government is an increase in hatred of Poland and Poles in this country. Among other things, for these reasons, I have decided to safely transport our ambassador’s children to Poland. Poland never leaves its diplomats in need.”