I came here with a very clear message: we want relations between Israel and Poland to get back on track, ie to the state that existed before the series of crises that started in 2018 – assures the new Israeli ambassador in Warsaw, Jakow Liwne , in an interview on Friday for “Rzeczpospolita”.
“We want to get relationships back on track”
Asked by the newspaper whether Poland is still viewed by Israeli diplomacy as an anti-Semitic, anti-liberal and anti-democratic country, the Israeli ambassador expressed the belief that his submission of credentials to President Andrzej Duda on Tuesday “is another important step in towards the restoration of normal, good relations between Israel and Poland”.
Just like we had before the series of crises that started in January 2018
– added.
I believe there is a genuine will in Jerusalem and Warsaw that we want it together. I came here a few months ago with a very clear message from the then Head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and now Prime Minister Jair Lapid. The message is: we want to get relationships back on track
He stated.
When Rzeczpospolita pointed out that in 2019 a different language was used by Foreign Ministry head Izrael Katz, who said Poles had sucked anti-Semitism with their mother’s milk, and last year Minister Jair Lapid, who described Poland as Jakow Liwne, an anti-Semitic, anti-liberal and anti-democratic country, believed that “Poland’s image is largely shaped by our common history.” He pointed out, among other things, about “very close, also personal, family relationships of many Israelis, those who speak Polish, but especially those who do not know Polish, but their ancestors or relatives are from Poland”.
The attitude towards Poland has a lot to do with emotions, but even more with the closeness and intimacy between our nations
– he judged.
“We know who was responsible for the Holocaust”
Later in the interview, the ambassador referred to the Holocaust, which – as he noted – “happened here in Europe, largely on Polish soil”. As he assured, “we learn and we know that the Holocaust was initiated and planned by the Germans, by Nazi Germany and no one else.”
Everyone in Israel knows the Wannsee Conference, on the shores of a beautiful lake near Berlin. We know who was responsible for the Holocaust. Of course we know that the Germans also had collaborators in the countries they occupied. And Poland was occupied too
That’s what Ambassador Liwne said.
Israeli-Russian relationship
The paper also asked about Israel’s relations with Russia and the imposition of sanctions on Moscow, in which Israel does not participate.
There is no denying that we are in an extremely difficult situation on our northern border. Fundamentalists, extremists. The Iranian regime is doing everything it can to transform this area of Syria, not just Syria, into a place from which its troops can attack us. (…) It is also no secret that Russian aviation has been present in Syria since 2015 and that it would be extremely difficult for Israel to conduct such a policy without dialogue with Moscow. For Israel’s security, the main problem is the threat from Iran, a country that repeatedly announces its intention to destroy the world’s only Jewish state, with or without nuclear weapons. We have to take this into account
– said Liwne in reply.
The ambassador also recalled that there are large Jewish communities in Russia and Ukraine.
Their security and prosperity cannot remain indifferent to us. These two points explain the specific situation Israel is in
– he explained.
He referred to the comment that Putin was responsible for the deaths of thousands of civilians, for the expulsions of millions, and for plans to “re-educate” Ukrainians to make them understand that they are Russians, and threatens Russia with thousands of nuclear warhead missiles. The Israeli diplomat stated that his job was not to “advise countries in Europe facing new threats and the realities of war that hadn’t been here for decades”.
I can share the Israeli experience. For years we have been threatened by some of our neighbors and by terrorist organizations. A year ago we were attacked by a terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip. We have learned that we must have friends on the international stage. I believe that, because of their history and common heritage, but also in light of the current challenges, Israel and Poland should return to cooperation and go beyond what we had in the past
– stated the ambassador of Israel in an interview for Rzeczpospolita.
of the Criminal Code / PAP
Source: wPolityce
Barbara Dickson is a seasoned writer for “Social Bites”. She keeps readers informed on the latest news and trends, providing in-depth coverage and analysis on a variety of topics.