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Poland president to review Holocaust bill after Israel outcry | Poland president to review Holocaust bill after Israel outcry |
(35 minutes later) | |
Poland's President Andrzej Duda says he will review controversial plans to outlaw any suggestion of Polish complicity in the Nazi Holocaust. | Poland's President Andrzej Duda says he will review controversial plans to outlaw any suggestion of Polish complicity in the Nazi Holocaust. |
Israel has fiercely objected to the draft law, which would also make it illegal to describe Nazi death camps in Poland as Polish. | Israel has fiercely objected to the draft law, which would also make it illegal to describe Nazi death camps in Poland as Polish. |
Critics say it seeks to limit discussion about Polish involvement. | Critics say it seeks to limit discussion about Polish involvement. |
Poland has long insisted it was blameless and the death camps were run entirely by occupying German forces. | Poland has long insisted it was blameless and the death camps were run entirely by occupying German forces. |
The country was attacked and occupied by Nazi Germany during World War Two. Millions of its citizens were killed, including three million Polish Jews in the Holocaust. | The country was attacked and occupied by Nazi Germany during World War Two. Millions of its citizens were killed, including three million Polish Jews in the Holocaust. |
Six million Jews were killed in the Holocaust overall. | |
More Poles have been honoured by Israel for saving the lives of Jews during the war than any other nation. | More Poles have been honoured by Israel for saving the lives of Jews during the war than any other nation. |
However, historians say others were complicit by acts such as informing on Jews in hiding, for rewards, and participating in Nazi-instigated massacres including in Jedwabne where hundreds of Jews were murdered by their neighbours. | |
Poland's draft bill, which is an amendment to an existing Polish law, would make using phrases like "Polish death camps" punishable by up to three years in prison. | Poland's draft bill, which is an amendment to an existing Polish law, would make using phrases like "Polish death camps" punishable by up to three years in prison. |
It must pass in the Senate and be signed by the president before it becomes law. | It must pass in the Senate and be signed by the president before it becomes law. |
President Duda promised "careful analysis" of the legislation following the outcry from Israel on Sunday. | President Duda promised "careful analysis" of the legislation following the outcry from Israel on Sunday. |
Poland's government insists the legislation aims to prevent the international defamation of Poland, and is not intended to impede genuine academic debate. | Poland's government insists the legislation aims to prevent the international defamation of Poland, and is not intended to impede genuine academic debate. |
But Israeli officials have condemned the bill. | But Israeli officials have condemned the bill. |
"I strongly oppose it. One cannot change history and the Holocaust cannot be denied," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement. | "I strongly oppose it. One cannot change history and the Holocaust cannot be denied," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement. |
Israel's Education and Diaspora Affairs Minister Naftali Bennett acknowledged that phrases such as "Polish camps" were misrepresentative. | Israel's Education and Diaspora Affairs Minister Naftali Bennett acknowledged that phrases such as "Polish camps" were misrepresentative. |
But he added: "It is a historic fact that many Poles aided in the murder of Jews, handed them in, abused them, and even killed Jews during and after the Holocaust." | But he added: "It is a historic fact that many Poles aided in the murder of Jews, handed them in, abused them, and even killed Jews during and after the Holocaust." |
The Polish charge d'affaires to Israel was summoned by the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem. | The Polish charge d'affaires to Israel was summoned by the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem. |
During a phone call, Mr Netanyahu and his Polish counterpart Mateusz Morawiecki agreed to open a dialogue on the issue. | During a phone call, Mr Netanyahu and his Polish counterpart Mateusz Morawiecki agreed to open a dialogue on the issue. |
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