This is due to legislative amendments that limit the rights of Holocaust survivors to restitution of property taken from them
Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid has instructed the Jewish state’s chargé d’affaires in Warsaw to return home immediately “for indefinite consultations” after Polish President Andrzej Duda signed legislative amendments earlier Saturday restricting the rights of Holocaust survivors to restitution of property taken from them, it was reported.
“Today is not the first time Poland has approved an anti-Semitic and immoral law. Tonight I instructed our chargé d’affaires in Warsaw to return immediately to Israel for indefinite consultations. The new Israeli ambassador to Poland, who was due to leave for Warsaw shortly, will not go to Poland at this stage. The Israeli Foreign Ministry will recommend today that the Polish ambassador to Israel continue his holiday in his country”, – his press office circulated Lapid’s remarks.
The Israeli foreign minister said “Poland has turned into an anti-democratic, illiberal country that does not honour the greatest tragedy in the history of mankind.” Lapid added that Israel was “in coordination talks with the Americans on how to respond”.
“One cannot remain silent in such a situation”, – he stressed.
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett also condemned the signing of the amendments.
“This is a shameful decision and a disgraceful contempt for the memory of the Holocaust. Israel views negatively the passage of a law that prevents Jews from receiving compensation for property stolen from them during the Holocaust, and regrets that Poland has chosen to continue hurting those who lost everything”, – his office circulated Bennett’s remarks. “Israel will not remain indifferent to such a step”, – the Israeli prime minister added.
In August, the Polish parliament approved legislative amendments that will make it impossible to challenge an administrative decision, including on the ownership of property, after 30 years. They were signed by the country’s president on Saturday.