Israel outraged after Holocaust bill passed

ISRAEL expressed dismay yesterday after the Polish senate passed a controversial bill on the Holocaust, perceived by the Jewish state as enabling a distortion of history.

The bill sets fines or a maximum three-year jail term for anyone who refers to Nazi German death camps as Polish or accuses Poland of complicity in the Third Reich’s crimes.

The legislation had been approved by the Polish lower parliament last Friday, sparking vocal protests in Israel, which said it could serve to deny Polish involvement in Nazi Germany’s extermination of Jews.

Israel set up a team to conduct a dialogue with the Polish government in hope of amending or delaying the bill, but the Polish upper house approved it early yesterday. Polish President Andrzej Duda now has 21 days to sign it into law.

The Israeli foreign ministry said it categorically opposed the Polish senate decision.

“Israel views with utmost gravity any attempt to challenge historical truth. No law will change the facts,” ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon said.

Transport Minister Israel Katz called on the premier to recall the Israeli ambassador to Poland for consultations.

Poland was attacked and occupied by Nazi Germany in World War 2, losing six million of its citizens, including three million Jews. – AFP