Poland and Israel Sign Youth Travel Agreement to Deepen Bilateral Ties

The agreement marks a shift from a distant, imperfect phase in bilateral relations toward a future of balanced, equal, and reciprocal cooperation. This sentiment was echoed by Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau during a press briefing with his Israeli counterpart, Eli Cohen, as they discussed the trajectory of ties between Poland and Israel.

A favorable moment to complete the negotiation process

The Polish and Israeli foreign ministers signed an agreement addressing several issues, notably the framework for youth travel between Israel and Poland and back again.

The Polish side welcomed the visit of Israel’s Foreign Minister to Warsaw, viewing it as a chance to restore an equal partnership dynamic between the two nations, Rau noted.

The current state of relations, which did not originate from Poland and did not meet the expectations of either country, was acknowledged as an area needing improvement, Rau added.

Cohen’s visit also created momentum to finalize negotiations on a new comprehensive agreement governing educational visits by Israeli youth to Poland and Polish youth to Israel, Rau observed.

Last year, Poland proposed to Israel a broad intergovernmental framework covering reciprocal educational programs, including visits by Israeli youth to Poland and by Polish youth to Israel, along with the technical organization of these exchanges, Rau emphasized.

Rau: Relations based on truth

Poland’s proposal respected each side’s autonomy, recognizing that the education of Israeli youth is Israel’s responsibility while Polish youth education remains Poland’s charge, Rau explained.

At the same time, it began from the simple fact that Israeli authorities run their own educational programs on Polish soil, and Polish programs conducted in Israel must align with both countries’ legal orders and hosting contexts, Rau noted.

Poland’s interest in concluding such an agreement centers on offering Israeli youths the opportunity to visit the land of their ancestors, learning about history and the Holocaust while shaping a modern, safe, welcoming Poland that serves as a key security provider in Europe.

Poland also seeks to broaden Polish youths’ knowledge of Israel, its culture, and its contemporary challenges. The agreement is expected to reduce mutual stereotypes and deepen personal ties, Rau argued.

He expressed confidence that youth exchanges anchored in historical truth would forge harmonious relations between the two societies, noting that the Israeli side accepted Poland’s proposals with understanding.

What the agreement covers

During nearly a year of negotiations led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with participation from the Ministry of State and National Education, both sides reached a consensus on several core points. First, equality of the parties and mutual benefit were established as the starting point.

Second, peer-to-peer meetings between Polish and Israeli youth will be a central element of the mutual-visit programs, ensuring as many direct interactions as possible to build genuine understanding and counter harmful stereotypes.

Third, the programs will go beyond memorial sites connected to Holocaust history, including comprehensive teaching about Polish history, the long-standing Polish-Jewish relationship, and the cultural heritage spanning nearly a thousand years.

Fourth, safety responsibilities for groups of young travelers will rest with the host country, a point underscored given past security concerns during certain visits to Poland. Poland affirmed its status as a safe destination for Israelis, Jews, and other visitors, and no extra security coordination is typically required, Rau stressed. The Israeli side concurred, and both sides expressed openness to organized youth visits under the new framework. Rau added that Poland expects a similar readiness from Israel for Polish youth visiting Israel.

The agreement marks a move away from a less-than-ideal phase in relations and opens prospects for balanced, reciprocal partnership that benefits both nations, Rau concluded.

Cohen: A pivotal moment in Poland-Israel relations

The signing of the Youth Travel Agreement is described by Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen as a turning point in ties between the two nations. At a joint press briefing with Poland’s and Israel’s foreign ministers, Rau and Cohen formalized arrangements for Israeli youth travel to Poland and Polish youth travel to Israel.

Cohen called the moment an important milestone, reflecting a shared commitment to dialogue about history and future collaboration. He expressed hope that Polish youth would visit Israel and stressed that youth exchanges are about more than people movement—they are about ongoing conversations about the past and the future.

He noted that young people are the future and that understanding history shapes tomorrow. Cohen recalled the long-standing connection between Poles and Jews, describing a history where both communities contributed to culture, science, literature, and shared global heritage while acknowledging painful chapters, including the Holocaust.

He added that contemporary Poland and Israel can build excellent relations through cooperation, with a stronger bond supported by many friends in Poland. Cohen also voiced optimism about hosting Rau in Israel soon, as diplomatic work resumes with the ambassadorial appointment in both capitals.

Earlier, at a joint press conference, Rau announced the agreement on the organization of Israeli youth travel to Poland and Polish youth travel to Israel, signaling a renewed phase of engagement between the two countries.

— End of briefing — [Citation: wPolityce]