Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid has called Poland’s new property law immoral and anti-semitic and claimed that it denies Jews their rights over Holocaust memorabilia. The two countries severed diplomatic ties after the law was ratified last week.
Poland’s new property law levies restrictions on international access and claims to property and resources lost during World War II. The law amended the Code of Administrative Procedure, which makes it impossible to challenge an administrative decision after 30 years have passed. However, the Polish authorities claim that it will still be possible to file lawsuits to obtain compensation, despite citizenship or origin.
Poland inherited the Jewish properties stolen by Nazi Germany under its communist regime. Since then, the nation has attempted to restructure and re-privatise its property laws. Instead of stolen property being lawfully returned to its original Jewish owners, several Polish citizens have lost their possessions due to World War II’s complex nature.
On Saturday, Lapid tweeted: “Gone are the days when Poles harmed Jews without consequence. Today, Jews have a proud and strong country of their own. We do not fear antisemitic threats and have no intention of turning a blind eye to the shameful conduct of the anti-democratic Polish government.”
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett followed suit and termed the law “shameful” and dismissive of Jewish sentiments.
However, on Monday, defending the law, Polish President Andrzej Duda said, “It puts an end to the state of uncertainty in which bona fide apartments and real estate, acquired in good faith, could be taken away by a simple administrative decision when their owner from over 70 years ago was found.”
“Practice has shown that often these owners were fictitious, and at the expense of tens of thousands of people thrown out into the street, criminal groups got rich,” he then retorted.
After the law was approved, Israel recalled its Chargé d’Affaires to Poland, Tal Ben-Ari Yaalon, for an “indefinite period.” Lapid also proposed that Polish Ambassador Marek Magierowski should withdraw from his post in Tel Aviv. He said the ambassador should “explain to the Polish people how we [Israelis] will not tolerate contempt for the memory of the victims and the memory of the Holocaust.” Magierowski has served as the Polish ambassador in Israel for three years.
Alarmed at Israel’s reaction, particularly the withdrawal of Magierowski, the Polish Foreign Ministry stated, “We will take appropriate diplomatic and political action, taking into account the principle of reciprocity.”
Israeli Foreign Minister Calls New Polish Law Anti-Semitic, Poland Rejects Accusation
Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid called Poland’s new property law immoral and anti-semitic and claimed that it denies the Jews their right over Holocaust memorabilia.
August 17, 2021
SOURCE: GETTY IMAGES