Poland, Israel to exchange ambassadors once again, ending year long dispute
Relations between the two nations have been sensitive for years because of a series of Polish laws related to the Holocaust
Israel and Poland have agreed to restore relations to their proper course, according to the President’s Office.
On Monday, President Isaac Herzog spoke with Poland’s President Andrzej Duda about their countries' bilateral relations. Herzog requested the return of a Polish ambassador to Israel and Duda agreed.
In addition, the new Israeli ambassador-designate to Poland, Yacov Livne, will present his diplomatic credentials within the next few days.
It has been nearly a year since either country has had an ambassador in the other country.
The call was initiated with the encouragement of Prime Minister Yair Lapid and alternate-Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.
The virtual meeting comes on the heels of a decision last month to cancel Israeli youth trips to Poland, with Lapid claiming that the Poles tried to manipulate the content of those school tours to exonerate the country of its role during the Holocaust.
Relations between the two nations have been sensitive for years because of a series of Polish laws related to the Holocaust, including a restitution law that makes it almost impossible for heirs of Holocaust survivors to claim stolen property.
Another law, passed in 2018, prohibits public discussion related to Poland's responsibility for the Holocaust.
The All Israel News Staff is a team of journalists in Israel.
