Israel ‘acting like a bull in a china shop’ amid spat with Poland: opinion

In an opinion piece for the online Forum of Polish Jews (Forum Żydów Polskich), Paweł Jędrzejewski said that Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the country’s ambassador to Poland, Anna Azari, and prominent Israelis taking to social media – such as former finance minister Yair Lapid – have all “demonstrated a lack of sensitivity and imagination, rash action and irresponsibility” in their criticism of the new Polish regulations, which, if enacted, would carry penalties for anyone who publicly ascribes blame to the Polish nation or state for crimes committed by Nazi Germany.

The Israeli ambassador to Poland criticised the new rules in an impromptu speech at an official ceremony commemorating the 73rd anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Nazi German concentration camp on Saturday.

The Israeli officials “in a matter of hours” strongly undermined long-standing efforts to build positive Polish-Israeli relations, according to Jędrzejewski, and “their behaviour … was so obviously wrong that it seems that this was a deliberate act and that the purpose of these actions was not what they were declaring.”

Jędrzejewski also argued that “it is, after all, an elementary principle that diplomatic channels are used in a calm and matter-of-fact manner in such a situation, instead of the ostentatious spectacle that was staged during the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz (an improvised speech by the Israeli ambassador).”

He added: “Israel's actions have been so unprofessional that it is difficult to believe that this lack of professionalism was not pre-planned and staged.”

Jędrzejewski also said in his piece that, aside from interstate relations, “Polish-Jewish relations understood in purely human terms” have suffered even more serious harm. As a result of the “irresponsible approach of the Israeli side, people in Poland who are prejudiced against Jews and are looking for an excuse to legitimatise their stance have been presented with a wonderful ‘gift.’ They could not have dreamed of a better one.”

On the other hand, “many people who were indifferent and even friendly toward Israel and Jews were all of a sudden treated to a bucket of cold (and dirty) water,” Jędrzejewski said.

The Polish and Israeli prime ministers have agreed to hold dialogue amid tensions between their countries.

(gs/pk)

Source: fzp.net.pl