Poland offers Israel to resume youth trips to Holocaust sites

Warsaw reportedly conditioned resumption on Israeli security guards accompanying the tours being unarmed, as well as 'modification of certain contents' conveyed during trips; Jerusalem yet to respond to the offer
i24NEWS|
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Poland submitted a proposal to Israel on Wednesday to resume Holocaust memorial tours in the country for Israeli high school students after several months-long freezes.
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  • Amid controversy over Holocaust memory in Poland, Israel canceled organized youth trips to the country over attempts to manipulate educational content presented to Israeli delegations.
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    משלחת לפולין
    משלחת לפולין
    Israeli students visit Auschwitz as part of Holocaust memorial trip
    (Photo: Moshe Milner)
    Then-foreign minister Yair Lapid stated that "the Poles wanted to mess with the content of the trips and what can or can’t be said to Israeli children visiting."
    In 2018 Poland adopted a law that prohibits discussing historical facts regarding Poles' actions against Jews during the Holocaust, going so far as to accuse Israel of fostering "anti-Polonism," or prejudice against Poles as an ethnic group and the state of Poland and its culture. This legislation strained Warsaw's ties with the Jewish state.
    Then-prime minister Naftali Bennett branded the law “a shameful decision and disgraceful contempt for the memory of the Holocaust” and said that “Poland has chosen to continue harming those who have lost everything.”
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    ישיבת הממשלה בנושא אישור ההסכם הימי עם לבנון
    ישיבת הממשלה בנושא אישור ההסכם הימי עם לבנון
    Former prime minister Naftali Bennett
    (Photo: Yoav Dudkevitch)
    According to public broadcaster Kan news, Warsaw conditioned the resumption on Israeli security guards accompanying the tours being unarmed, as well as the "modification of certain contents" conveyed during the trips. Jerusalem is yet to respond to the offer.

    Reprinted with permission from i24NEWS.
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    2.
    The Kozak’s want their money back!!!
    It’s all about the money
    Etan Tzvi Dimant| 03.04.23
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    1.
    Poland's selective memory
    I think it is a mistake to accept the Polish offer to resume tours of holocaust sites with the proposed restrictions. Furthermore, the Poles lack of accountability and legislative attempts to revise history should met with economic sanctions and withdrawal of Diplomatic credentials. If Israel is nothing more, it represents the end of Jews accepting second class treatment and double standards for Jews. As Jews we have to stand strong against those who wish to harm us. The failure to appear strong is what fuels further antisemitism and hatred of Jews. Wake up Israel and stop kissing asses of those who can't take responsibility for their own actions.
    Ron Ofeck| 02.09.23
    22
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    It's not a sincere offer.
    The Poles don't want these tours to resume. Large groups of young Jews marching around Polish cities wearing blue jackets wrapped in flags is undesirable. I experienced it once in Warsaw while on business. It's nothing but an emotional exercise to motivate military service. It's been 80 years. Time to tone it down a bit.
    Niall Joyce| 02.13.23
    10
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