In an exclusive interview with Israel Today, in light of the tension between the countries regarding the narrative of memory, Yitzhak Chapowitz says: "Historians should be given the facts about the Holocaust" • On the state of relations between Warsaw and Jerusalem: "Foreign Minister Katz hit us, but It's behind us "

• Polish Foreign Minister Yacek Chapotowicz // Photo: IP

In the corridors of the Foreign Ministry in Warsaw you could almost hear the sigh of relief, which was released when the "Holocaust Forum" ended in Jerusalem. The fears that Russian President Vladimir Putin would use the status to "distort World War II history and attack Poland" did not materialize.

Polish President Andrzej Duda, who decided not to come to Jerusalem because he was unable to speak alongside the presidents of Russia, Germany, France and Israel, will today host the Israeli and German presidential commemorations at the Auschwitz-Birkenau extermination camp as part of the official 75th anniversary of the camp's liberation. Among the participants in the event will be Polish Foreign Minister Yacek Chapowitz, who in an exclusive interview with "Today Israel" adopts President Rivlin's proposal "to leave history to historians."

"It is a good idea to let historians properly investigate the facts of World War II," says the Polish minister. "Our information should be based on the facts and research of historians. At the same time, we need to keep in mind recent history, to be aware of the dangers and avoid mistakes or decisions. Wrong. "

Why is there still debate about the historical facts of World War II?
"We are quite consistent in our interpretation and contribution to knowledge of those events," says Chaputowicz, "Our archives are open, our institutes have access to information, the memorial sites in the camps on Polish soil - Auschwitz, Majdanek, Belzec, Sobibor, Stutthof - "It's our duty. More than 3.5 million people visit these former camps every year. More than two million people come to Auschwitz. Poland belongs to countries that best preserve material and facts. We treat history with respect, and I think other countries follow us."

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Is it possible to reach a common narrative for different nations about what happened in the war, or will we continue to preserve national narratives?
"Discussions should be welcomed if they are fact-based. We cannot agree on something and give it a stamp. We are open to fact-based discussions, because we know the truth - what happened, how, who did it, how many Poles - Jews and non-Jews "They suffered. For Poland, we lost six million people, three million of whom were Polish Jews. It's part of our history and heritage, and we preserve it."

What do you think is the importance of the memorial service in Auschwitz and what are the lessons for the present and the future?
"We mark the release of Auschwitz every year, but since it is a 'round' date, this year's event will be special," describes the Polish Foreign Minister, adding that "it is important for us to give voice to the survivors and listen to them. These are the last years they are still with us. Apolitical, in the presence of Presidents Duda, Rivlin, and Steinmeyer, to cherish, respect and ensure that we will forever remember that horrible experience.The danger is to use history as a means to achieve political gains in contemporary politics.We see this tendency, for example, in President Putin's attacks. In history as a weapon for contemporary wars. "

What is behind Putin's use of history against Poland?
"I don't think it's against Poland but against the truth, against those who died in World War II," attacked Chaputowicz, who notes that Poland was conquered by Germany and Russia. "This is a clear historical fact. Everyone knows how the war started," he continues. "Part of Poland was occupied by Russia for almost two years.

"Our citizens were forcibly deported to Siberia and other parts of Russia. Thousands of Polish intellectuals and officers were executed in Katin - among them about 500 Jews. The Soviets treated them as Poles. They did not distinguish between non-Jews. On the German side, some Polish Jewish officers survived because "Why Putin does this? He wants to disagree with Western allies. He runs disinformation campaigns. That's one of them. He wants to present Russian history more positively and legitimize his agenda today."

"Waiting for clear apology"

Exactly two years have passed since the beginning of the crisis between Poland and Israel because of the so-called "Holocaust Law" in Israel. Two years that put both countries into a historical and political minefield. Does Chapotovich regret something that happened during this period? "It was indeed a crisis," he emphasizes, "but it was resolved quickly, since the law was repealed. Mostly scholars, but also states, raised reservations and believed that the law could restrict freedom of research and expression. These arguments were compelling, so we pulled the law. Prime Minister Netanyahu and Moravitsky were important. The crisis is over. Israel is very important to us, as a Jewish state. Everything about Jews is very important to us because of our history and our empathy. Maintaining good relations with Israel is our long-term goal, not only because of history but Since Israel is an important country today, there are many possibilities for cooperation. "

"Hit us," Foreign Minister Katz // Photo: Mark Israel Salem

And what about the Israeli officials?

The US is about to publish a report on the return of Jewish property from the Holocaust era. This report will be problematic for Poland?
"Depending on the content of the report," says Chapotovich, "when examining our system, there is a clear legal procedure for recovering property. Many Poles, including Jewish or any other ethnic origin, who lost their property during the war or in the Communist period, are seeking to return property or compensation, and this has happened through legal process. Poland is one of the countries that has done a lot on this issue. "

Don't you think that this report may poison the relationship between Israel and the Jews again with Poland?
"I don't think the decision on the report is Israeli, is it? We will provide information, if requested. Again, Poland belongs to countries that have done a lot in relation to the value of the property returned. "

There was an expectation in Israel that Poland would move its embassy to Jerusalem. Is this a real possibility?
"As far as the embassy move is concerned, we are coordinating our policy with the EU and we are not planning such a move," explains Foreign Minister Chaputowicz, "according to the UN, the policy is clear. The status of Jerusalem, a Palestinian state and peace are issues to be decided in negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. "