Poland blocks return of Jewish property looted after war

A session of the Polish Parliament, in Warsaw, on August 11, 2021. Agencja Gazeta via REUTERS - SLAWOMIR KAMINSKI

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The Polish Parliament on Wednesday 11 August approved a law

de facto

preventing

the restitution of most of the property confiscated after the Second World War, and in particular that of its Jewish nationals at the time, arousing strong criticism of Israel.

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It is a text that could poison relations between Poland and Israel.

The law imposes a 30-year limitation period for claiming looted property, usually confiscated by the Communist regime after the war.

 I condemn the legislation adopted by the Polish Parliament today, which tarnishes the memory of the Holocaust and the rights of its victims, 

” commented Israeli Foreign Minister Yaïr Lapid.

I will continue to oppose any attempt to rewrite history.

[...] Poland knows what should be done: cancel this law. 

"

President Andrzej Duda has yet to give his final approval for the law to be enforced, but supporters of the text argue it will end uncertainties over property rights and eliminate recurring issues of fraud and corruption.

Double theft

Opponents argue that Jews will be penalized more, because rights holders were often slow to come forward, and because property was often seized twice, first by the Nazis who occupied Poland and then by the Communists.

Six million Poles, half of them Jews, were killed during World War II in Poland.

When the Iron Curtain fell in 1989, Warsaw did not organize the return of looted property like most other countries in the Communist bloc did, letting individuals try their luck in court.

(With

AFP

)

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