Israelis pursuing Polish passports
Despite controversial Polish Holocaust law, relations are tightening between Jewish State and Poland; data shows that since 2002, 28,736 Israelis were granted a Polish passport, with 10,820 Israelis receiving it between the years 2015-2017.
Despite the controversial Polish law that outlaws blaming Poland as a nation for Holocaust crimes committed by Nazi Germany, since January 2018, there is an increase in the number of Israeli passport recipients, in comparison to 2017.
Israeli tourists are the third largest group of Poland's inbound tourism; direct flight routes connect between seven major Polish cities and Israel; the Poles celebrate their own Hanukkah with eating some 90 million Ponchikis— a polish version of the Israeli sufganiyah— deep-fried round doughnuts traditionally covered with powdered sugar and filled with strawberry jelly.
Many Israelis seek to possess a Polish passport, granting them Polish, and EU, citizenship, the right for higher education studies and US visa exemption. Some view the Polish passport as an insurance certificate for a 'rainy day.'
The data was published in the wake of Poland's 100th anniversary marking its renewed independence—an event marked both in Poland and in Israel
Meanwhile, the Polish Institute held a celebratory event in the new wing of the Tel Aviv Museum of Art with Polish Deputy Culture Minister and Poland's Ambassador to Israel Marek Magierowski in attendance, among others.
On Saturday night, the Tel Aviv Municipality building was illuminated with the colors of the Polish flag —red and white. Furthermore, the Jewish State and Poland launched a joint stamp.
Addressing the tightening relations between Jerusalem and Warsaw, Polish Institute Director Joanna Hofman, said, "Israel marked its 70th anniversary at the same time of the year Poland celebrated its 100th anniversary marking its renewed independence. We look forward to a better future between the two nations, for which we work tirelessly."
More than 6,000 Poles were recognized as Righteous Among the Nations by Yad Vashem, more than in any other country.
