(Communicated by the MFA Spokesperson)

Israel is disappointed in the decision of the Polish Parliament to forbid an important religious ritual which has been common practice among millions of Jews since ancient times.

The Parliament's decision to reject a bill allowing kosher slaughter in Poland is totally unacceptable. Poland's history is intertwined with the history of the Jewish people. This decision seriously harms the process of restoring Jewish life in Poland. We are astonished that Poland, of all EU countries, should be the one where kosher slaughter will be forbidden. This step is not in line with the openness and modernity that democratic Poland boasts. We call on the Polish Parliament to review its decision and we expect the relevant parties to find a way to prevent this brazen blow to the religious tradition of the Jewish people.