Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski said on Polish Radio 3: to the death of a group of volunteers – including a Pole – in the Gaza Strip as a result of Israeli shelling. “If this is what the Israeli press reports, then Israel owes the families of the volunteers an apology and compensation,” he stressed. The head of diplomacy, taking part in the meeting of foreign ministers of NATO countries in Brussels, also stated that Poland will seek candidates from our region for high positions in NATO, the EU and the UN.
Sikorski, who is taking part in the meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Brussels, said the Israeli side promised an in-depth investigation and cooperation with the Polish prosecutor’s office to clarify the circumstances of the attack, which also resulted in deaths from a Polish volunteer.
If what is stated in the Israeli press is confirmed, namely that it was a deliberate attack because it was believed that a terrorist was there, then my ethical sensitivity does not allow me to sacrifice the lives of seven civilians to kill a terrorist who didn’t. pose a direct threat. There is something very wrong with Israel’s weapons policy. Let me remind you that they have already killed their own hostages
– said Sikorski.
If it is as reported in the Israeli press, (…) then Israel owes the families of these volunteers an apology and compensation
– added.
The President of Israel (Yitzhak Hercog – PAP) has already expressed his condolences to the head of the World Central Kitchen organization. The ambassador joined in these condolences
– said Sikorski when asked about the arrival of the Israeli ambassador to Poland, Yakov Livny, on the X platform.
The ambassador wrote, among other things, that “the extreme right and left in Poland accuse Israel of deliberate murder”; he added that the deputy chairman of the Sejm and leader of the Confederation, Krzysztof Bosak, believes Israel is committing “war crimes” and terrorizing humanitarian organizations to starve Palestinians.
“We are looking for candidates from our region”
The head of Polish diplomacy, taking part in the meeting of foreign ministers of NATO countries, was asked whether Poland supports the candidacy of Dutch Prime Minister Rutte for the post of NATO Secretary General.
We love Marek Rutte, but at the same time we believe that our region is insufficiently represented, both in the Alliance, in the EU and in the UN system. We are looking for candidates for high positions in all three organizations in our region
– said Sikorski.
In addition to Rutte, the President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, declared his willingness to run for the position of Secretary General of NATO.
““More moderation and humility”
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Radosław Sikorski, announced in the Third Program of Polish Radio that he demanded full cooperation from the Israeli side with the Polish prosecutor’s office.
And we as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will of course support this: the consular department and the embassy are of course at the disposal of the Ministry of Justice
– said Sikorski.
He added that Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz had promised him an independent investigation.
If what the Israeli press writes is true, namely that a humanitarian convoy was deliberately attacked, on the assumption that there could have been one terrorist there, but someone who did not pose a direct threat to a large group of people, then I don’t know of a single terrorist. ethical system where this is justified and gives rise to concern. This is my moral outrage
– he emphasized.
He added that if “there was a willingness to sacrifice the lives of seven civilians just to kill one terrorist,” Israel should apologize and pay compensation.
Sikorski also referred to the arrival of the Israeli ambassador to Poland, Yakov Livny, on the X platform.
The ambassador wrote, among other things, that “the extreme right and left in Poland accuse Israel of deliberate murder”; he added that the deputy chairman of the Sejm and leader of the Confederation, Krzysztof Bosak, claims that Israel is committing “war crimes” and terrorizing humanitarian organizations to starve Palestinians.
He also stressed that Bosak “has not yet agreed to condemn the Hamas massacre on October 7” and that “his fellow party member, a right-wing extremist, extinguished the Hanukkah menorah with a fire extinguisher.”
Conclusion: Anti-Semites will always remain anti-Semites, and Israel will remain a democratic Jewish state fighting for its right to exist
Liwne said.
The head of Polish diplomacy emphasized: “I would advise the ambassador to be more moderate and modest.”
This is a time for him to apologize rather than stir up emotions
– added Sikorski.
When asked whether this tragedy could be called a war crime, he replied that he was not a prosecutor or a court and therefore could not rule on it.
““Relations with Israel are not easy.”
The minister also commented on the opinion that the ambassador should be expelled from Poland because of his controversial words. According to Sikorski, “it would be easy and satisfying for some people for 48 hours.”
But then you have to have normal interstate relations
– he noted.
It is easy to demand the expulsion of the ambassador, the termination of diplomatic relations, etc. After all, there are still Polish hostages, Polish citizens in Israel and Polish citizens in the West Bank under Palestinian rule. We help them and that is why embassies are useful
– he explained.
Relations with Israel are not easy
– admitted the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
He noted that Poland does not have an ambassador to Israel, but said it already has a candidate for the position. However, he did not want to reveal his name until President Andrzej Duda found out. However, he added that he had already informed Prime Minister Donald Tusk of his choice.
Asked whether this story would “incite anti-Semitism in Poland,” the minister said that “it already appears to be inciting anti-Semitism.”
He noted that this was not the first time the Israeli army had used force.
About ten weeks ago she shot her own hostages who wanted to go to her own hostages, waving white flags. You cannot dismiss this by saying that this happens in a war. There is clearly something wrong with the Israeli army’s rules on the use of weapons
– he assessed.
We recognize Israel’s right to defend itself, but we do not recognize its right to use excessive force and illegal settlements. We also recognize Palestine’s right to statehood and the creation of an institutional framework to live in peace. In the current situation, both parties lose
– Sikorski summed it up.
min. Radosław Sikorski on the arrival of Amb. Izrael Ya’akov Liwne, who viewed the condemnation of the attack on the humanitarian convoy as an expression of anti-Semitism: “I would advise more moderation and humility. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs must respond based on facts. We are learning more and more. My opponent promised an independent investigation.”
NATO mission in support of Ukraine?
When asked what would be the subject of the talks between NATO foreign ministers at the meeting in Brussels, he replied:
The topic will of course be the neo-imperialist Russian invasion of Ukraine, assistance from Member States for Ukraine, but also the possibility of deciding to establish a NATO mission, not a military, but a supporting mission for Ukraine.
As he emphasized, setting up such a mission would make it possible to “use the capabilities of the Alliance itself to train Ukrainians, use Alliance logistics or other common elements that we have.”
According to him, this could be an important support for the fight against Ukraine.
When asked whether he was afraid that Russia would interpret this as NATO’s entry into the armed conflict, the minister replied:
Putin convinces the Russians in his propaganda that Russia is already in conflict with NATO and is not fighting Ukraine, but the entire NATO, and that this is actually their defensive war, which is of course a lie.
But for now it is not attacking NATO countries yet
– noted the journalist.
And I don’t recommend it, because we are twenty times richer, we are currently getting stronger, and just as the Soviet Union did not win the Cold War with the West, Russia would also lose such a war.
– replied the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Sikorski assessed that “despite the current stalemate on the front, Ukraine has not yet said the last word.”
He added that the ultimate outcome of the war largely depends on “what we do.”
When the United Right was in power in Poland and the politicians of the current ruling coalition were in opposition, disputes with Israel occurred very often. Subsequently, Radosław Sikorski and his associates were the first to lecture, criticize and blame Poles for submissions by Israeli diplomats and politicians similar to those of the Israeli ambassador to Poland. Let us recall how President Andrzej Duda was attacked in January 2020, when he refused to participate in the World Holocaust Forum because the Russian satrap Vladimir Putin was scheduled to speak there, intensively attacking Poland at the time using historical lies.
Will the current government understand today that in opposition you can say and do anything, but when it comes to responsibility, actions and decisions, it suddenly turns out that not every dispute is Poland’s fault, and relations with some partners are not easy ? all?
aja/PAP, PR24
Source: wPolityce