Rivlin to Polish counterpart: ‘Many Poles’ helped murder Jews in WWII

During a meeting with his Polish counterpart, Andrzej Duda, in Poland in honor of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, President Reuven Rivlin notes that while “the Polish people fought with courage and strength against Nazi Germany… many Poles stood by and even assisted in the murder of Jews.”

He is referring to recent efforts by the Polish government to play down the complicity of some Poles in anti-Jewish violence during and after the Holocaust while asserting that the Polish nation, like the Jewish people, was a victim of the Nazi regime.

“Preserving memory is a fundamental building block of our heritage,” Rivlin says.

“Our duty is to fight a determined, clear, uncompromising battle against anti-Semitism and racism,” he adds. “We reach out to the Polish people today and ask work together for the future of the next generation, respecting history and inspired by peace, justice, tolerance and partnership.”

There is no substitute for International Holocaust Remembrance Day at Auschwitz. There is no substitute for this ceremony, with the promise never to forget. For good and for bad, the Jewish people remembers. Preserving memory is a fundamental building block of our heritage pic.twitter.com/xOKtGc0Uxz

— Reuven Rivlin (@PresidentRuvi) January 27, 2020