Israel, Poland agree to restore ties after Holocaust row

By Burak Dag

ANKARA (AA) - Israel and Poland agreed on Monday to restore their relations that had strained following a Polish law making it difficult for Jews to claim World War II properties.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog and his Polish counterpart Andrzej Duda had a phone call during which they discussed ways of improving bilateral ties that had deteriorated by last year’s legislation that limited the ability of Jews, including Holocaust survivors, to regain property seized during World War II.

"Both presidents expressed their hope that any future issues between Poland and Israel will be solved through sincere and open dialogue and in a spirit of mutual respect," Herzog’s office said in a statement.

The two sides also agreed to restore ambassadors to both countries.

"President Herzog, in a joint initiative with the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Israel, requested the return of the ambassador of Poland," the statement said.

According to the statement, the Israeli ambassador-designate to Poland will present his credentials within days.

Duda, for his part, said the Polish ambassador, recalled during the row, should return to Israel soon, it added.

The Polish bill that caused tension between the two countries was passed by the parliament on August 11 last year and signed into law by Duda later on. At the time, then-Foreign Minister Yair Lapid termed the law as “immoral and anti-Semitic” and recalled the Israeli ambassador from Warsaw. In response, Poland withdrew its envoy from Israel.