US 'disappointed' at Polish president signing Holocaust bill - Reuters and Israel Hayom Staff

by Reuters and Israel Hayom Staff

"Enactment of this law adversely affects freedom of speech and academic inquiry," says U.S. secretary of state • Legislation would impose criminal penalties for attributing Nazi crimes to Polish state

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson at a news conference in 

Lima, Peru, February 5

Photo: Reuters

The United States is "disappointed that the Polish president has signed" legislation that would impose criminal penalties for attributing Nazi crimes to the Polish state, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said in a statement on Tuesday.

"Enactment of this law adversely affects freedom of speech and academic inquiry," Tillerson added.

Polish lawmakers approved the draft legislation last Thursday.

The proposal has triggered a diplomatic spat between Israel and Warsaw's conservative government, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu comparing it to an effort to change history.

Poland's ruling conservative Law and Justice party authored the bill, which calls for up to three years in prison for any intentional attempt to falsely attribute the crimes of Nazi Germany to the Polish state or people.

Law and Justice said it is fighting against the use of phrases like "Polish death camps" to refer to death camps operated by Nazi Germany in occupied Poland during World War II.

Israel, however, saw the move as an attempt to whitewash the role some Poles played in the killing of Jews during World War II.

U.S. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said last week that the U.S. understands that phrases like "Polish death camps" are "inaccurate, misleading, and hurtful" but voiced concern the legislation could "undermine free speech and academic discourse."

Nauert added: "We are also concerned about the repercussions this draft legislation, if enacted, could have on Poland's strategic interests and relationships – including with the United States and Israel. The resulting divisions that may arise among our allies benefit only our rivals.

"We encourage Poland to reevaluate the legislation in light of its potential impact on the principle of free speech and on our ability to be effective partners."

Israel's Foreign Ministry has said that Israel "adamantly opposes" the bill's approval as a whole.

The Israeli Embassy in Warsaw said that Israel does not oppose Poland's fight for assuring that the phrase "Polish death camps" is never used.

"We would like to use this opportunity to repeat that Israel stands with Poland in using the proper term for the death camps – German Nazi camps," the embassy said in its statement.

The embassy also said that it had received "a wave of anti-Semitic statements" in the past week.

"Up until now, we have maintained restraint, but we cannot be silent any longer," she said.

Local authorities have increased security around the Israeli Embassy building in Warsaw as a result of growing tensions over the legislation.

Reuters and Israel Hayom Staff

Source: http://www.israelhayom.com/2018/02/07/us-disappointed-at-polish-president-signing-holocaust-bill/

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