In the last few days we could not help but notice a wave of anti-Semitic statements, reaching the Embassy through all channels of communication. Many of them targeted Ambassador Anna Azari personally.
We have restrained ourselves from reaction, but we feel we should no more.
Anti-Semitic statements are overflowing the internet channels in Poland, but they have become present on the main stream media too, especially on the TVP Info. Even though Mr. Krzysztof Czabanski, head of the National Media Council said that "there is no place for anti-Semitic statements on the public media", the activity is on-going.
TVP Info communicated on their Twitter channel on Feb. 1st a message with a clear intention of linking the Israeli reaction to the IPN law with the reprivatization issue. We see it a clear example of anti-Semitic fake news.
We would like to use this opportunity to repeat that Israel stands with Poland in using the proper term for the death camps – German Nazi camps.
We hope that over 30 years of work and dedication of wonderful people, both in Poland and in Israel, will not be in vain and that we will be able to cooperate in an atmosphere of dialogue and shared understanding.
Embassy of Israel in Poland
During the ceremony commemorating the 73rd anniversary of the liberation of the German Nazi concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz, the Ambassador of Israel Anna Azari addressed a draft of a law on The Polish Institute of National Remembrance (IPN). The proposed bill stirred up controversy in Israel.
"The proposed bill was received in Israel as an attempt to prosecute testimonies of the Holocaust survivors. It evoked many emotions. We think it will make it impossible to tell the truth about the Holocaust."
Ambassador Azari said that "we hope we will be able to find common understanding of the changes the bill proposes. Israel knows who built Auschwitz and everyone knows it was not the Poles."
"I believe that Poland and Israel, being good friends, will be able to find a common language, as usual", she added.