Will trips to Poland be canceled? The diplomatic tension behind the Ministry of Education's announcement Israel today

Does the Ministry of Education's announcement come against the background of political tensions between Poland and Israel?

The Ministry of Education announced today (Thursday) that in view of security issues, preparations must be made for the possibility of canceling the delegations planned to leave for Poland.

Following the announcement of the Ministry of Education, Israel Today has learned that this is probably the result of diplomatic tensions that erupted between the countries about a year ago, against the background of a law passed in the Warsaw parliament that violated the right of Holocaust survivors to claim compensation.

However, there are discussions between the parties on the issue of security, and the assessment on the Israeli side is that the problem will be resolved soon.

The official statement from the Ministry of Education reads: "The Ministry of Education considers travel to Poland a very significant event in shaping the memory of the Holocaust. Therefore, the Ministry, in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, makes every effort to take out delegations. For the payment of the participants' advances. "

About 7,000 students have so far signed up for the planned trips in July-August.

Diplomatic crisis

The initial tension between the two countries began several years ago, following the Polish "Holocaust Law", which imposed criminal sanctions on those who would accuse Poland of responsibility for crimes in the Holocaust.

In 2018, Poland amended the law and removed the criminal component from it.

Despite this, the diplomatic crisis resumed about a year ago, after the Polish parliament passed another law, which stipulated that all open claims of Holocaust survivors demanding compensation, which had not been decided in the last 30 years, would be deleted.

Following the above-mentioned law, Foreign Minister Lapid launched a scathing diplomatic attack on Warsaw, saying that "Poland is passing laws bordering on Holocaust denial." , Because it's better to stay in Poland.

"The law borders on Holocaust denial."

Foreign Minister Lapid, Photo: Oren Ben Hakon

In response, the Polish Deputy Foreign Minister spoke out against the Israeli students' trips to the extermination camps, claiming that they "create an anti-Polish atmosphere" and that the content conveyed in them should be changed.

These things were said during the Corona period, when in any case no journeys took place, so their importance was mostly symbolic.

Now, with the resumption of travel, the Poles have conveyed a message of dissatisfaction by piling up difficulties in adding armed security guards to delegations. 

The Foreign Ministry responded: "Professional negotiations are underway with the Polish side regarding the regulation of security for delegations.

The Poles have announced that they are interested in the continuation of the trips of students from Israel, and on the Israeli side we are working so that these important trips can take place as usual. "As stated, the assessment in Jerusalem is that the issue will be resolved soon.

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