Poland cancels visit of Israeli delegation on way to discuss restitution of Jewish property lost during Holocaust
Poland has cancelled the visit of an Israeli delegation that was slated to land in the country on Monday to negotiate the restitution of Jewish property lost during the Holocaust.
Poland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced Monday that the visit of the Israeli delegation headed by Avi Cohen-Scali, the Director General of the Israeli Ministry for Social Equality, was canceled.
Poland decided to cancel the visit to Warsaw “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 ministry stated.
Israel has not officially commented on the cancellation.
Far-right elements in Poland have been protesting the intention to compensate Jews and their heirs who lost property during the Holocaust.
Poland is the only European Union country that has failed to pass a law that restores the property to Holocaust survivors and to others dispossessed during World War II or Communism.
Most recently, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in February called for Poland “to move forward with comprehensive private property restitution legislation for those who lost property during the Holocaust era.”
Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki was quoted as saying that the issue has been “definitely resolved.”
The World Jewish Restitution Organization, which has been seeking compensation for Holocaust survivors and their families, rejected his claim.
TPS
