Poland cancels Israel delegation visit over property restitution

The Polish Foreign Ministry yesterday cancelled a scheduled visit by Israeli officials to Warsaw saying they intended to discuss “the restitution of Jewish properties” seized during the Holocaust.

“Poland decided to cancel the visit of Israeli officials after the Israeli side made last minute changes in the composition of the delegation suggesting that the talks would primarily focus on the issues related to property restitution,” the foreign ministry in Warsaw said in a statement posted on its website.

A Polish official said in a statement, that “Israelis will not be prevented from coming to Poland and talking about the issue, but with regards to their desire to talk about restitution, our position is that the Germans are responsible for crimes against Jews committed in Polish territory during the Holocaust. Therefore, if they are interested in restitution, they should talk to the Germans.”

Thousands of Poles protested in Warsaw over the past few days against a law passed by the US Congress on the restitution of Jewish properties from the Holocaust.

The protesters demanded the United States not interfere in Poland’s internal affairs.

READ: Polish PM cancels trip to Israel in wake of comments on Poles in Holocaust