Following the allegations made by Yacov Livne, the Ambassador of Israel in Poland, against Polish politicians, Radosław Sikorski, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, responded on Wednesday, “I would advise the Israeli ambassador to Poland to exercise more restraint and humility. This is the time for him to apologize rather than to inflame emotions”.
Seven volunteers of the World Central Kitchen humanitarian organization, including a Pole, were killed in the Gaza Strip; the organization reported that they were fired upon by the Israeli army.
Sikorski told Polish public radio that he demanded that the Israeli side fully cooperate with the Polish prosecutor’s office. “And here, as the Foreign Ministry, we will of course support [the investigation]; the consular department, the embassy are of course at the disposal of the Ministry of Justice,” he said.
Sikorski added that Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz had promised him an independent investigation.
“If it is true what the Israeli press writes, that a humanitarian convoy was deliberately attacked, thinking that there might have been one terrorist there, but one who did not pose an immediate threat to a large group of people, then I do not know of an ethical system in which this is justified, and it arouses my moral indignation,” he stressed.
“There was a willingness to sacrifice the lives of seven civilians in order to kill one terrorist, then Israel should apologize for this and pay compensation,” Sikorski added.
The minister also referred to a post by the Israeli Ambassador to Poland, Yacov Livne, on Platform X that caused a degree of indignation online.
The ambassador stated that “the extreme right and left in Poland accuse Israel of premeditated murder”; he added that Sejm Deputy Speaker and “Confederation leader Krzysztof Bosak claims that Israel is committing “war crimes” and terrorizing humanitarian organizations to starve Palestinians.”
“The conclusion: anti-Semites will always remain anti-Semites, and Israel will remain a democratic Jewish State that fights for its right to exist,” Livne wrote.
Sikorski told Polish public radio that he demanded that the Israeli side fully cooperate with the Polish prosecutor’s office. “And here, as the Foreign Ministry, we will of course support [the investigation]; the consular department, the embassy are of course at the disposal of the Ministry of Justice,” he said.
Sikorski added that Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz had promised him an independent investigation.
“If it is true what the Israeli press writes, that a humanitarian convoy was deliberately attacked, thinking that there might have been one terrorist there, but one who did not pose an immediate threat to a large group of people, then I do not know of an ethical system in which this is justified, and it arouses my moral indignation,” he stressed.
“There was a willingness to sacrifice the lives of seven civilians in order to kill one terrorist, then Israel should apologize for this and pay compensation,” Sikorski added.
The minister also referred to a post by the Israeli Ambassador to Poland, Yacov Livne, on Platform X that caused a degree of indignation online.
The ambassador stated that “the extreme right and left in Poland accuse Israel of premeditated murder”; he added that Sejm Deputy Speaker and “Confederation leader Krzysztof Bosak claims that Israel is committing “war crimes” and terrorizing humanitarian organizations to starve Palestinians.”
“The conclusion: anti-Semites will always remain anti-Semites, and Israel will remain a democratic Jewish State that fights for its right to exist,” Livne wrote.
The head of Polish diplomacy stressed that “This is a time for him to apologize rather than to stir up emotions.” Asked whether the tragedy could be called a war crime he replied that he is not a prosecutor or a court, so he is not in a position to judge that.
The minister also addressed the growing opinions that the ambassador should be expelled from Poland due to his stance.
“It’s easy to demand the expulsion of the ambassador, the severance of diplomatic relations, etc. After all, there are still Polish hostages there, Polish citizens in Israel and Polish citizens in the West Bank under the Palestinian Authority. We are there to help them, and that’s what embassies are useful for,” he explained.
The minister also addressed the growing opinions that the ambassador should be expelled from Poland due to his stance.
“It’s easy to demand the expulsion of the ambassador, the severance of diplomatic relations, etc. After all, there are still Polish hostages there, Polish citizens in Israel and Polish citizens in the West Bank under the Palestinian Authority. We are there to help them, and that’s what embassies are useful for,” he explained.
“Relations with Israel are not easy,” the Foreign Minister admitted. He noted that Poland does not have its own ambassador to Israel, but said he has a candidate in mind for the position.
Sikorski pointed out that this is not the first time the Israeli army has crossed a line. “Several weeks ago, it shot its own hostages who wanted to go to their own waving white flags. You can’t dismiss this by saying that this happens in war. Evidently, there is something wrong with the rules of the Israeli military’s use of weapons,” he assessed.
“We recognize Israel’s right to self-defense, but we do not recognize the right to abuse force and illegal settlements. We also recognize Palestine’s right to statehood and to establish an institutional framework, to live in peace. In the current situation, both sides are losing” Sikorski concluded.
Sikorski pointed out that this is not the first time the Israeli army has crossed a line. “Several weeks ago, it shot its own hostages who wanted to go to their own waving white flags. You can’t dismiss this by saying that this happens in war. Evidently, there is something wrong with the rules of the Israeli military’s use of weapons,” he assessed.
“We recognize Israel’s right to self-defense, but we do not recognize the right to abuse force and illegal settlements. We also recognize Palestine’s right to statehood and to establish an institutional framework, to live in peace. In the current situation, both sides are losing” Sikorski concluded.
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