A text could poison relations between Poland and Israel. The Polish parliament on Wednesday 11 August approved a law de facto preventing the return of most of the property confiscated after the Second World War, and in particular that of its Jewish nationals at the time. The law imposes a 30-year limitation period for claiming looted property, usually confiscated by the Communist regime after the war.
President Andrzej Duda has yet to give his final approval for the law to be implemented.
“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 Yair Lapid. I will continue to oppose any attempt to rewrite history. (…) Poland knows what should be done, it is to cancel this law. “
Jews more penalized
Defenders of the text argue that it will end uncertainties over property rights and eliminate recurring problems of fraud and corruption.
Opponents argue that Jews will be further penalized, 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, Poland did not organize the restitution of looted property as did most of the other countries of the Communist bloc, letting individuals try their luck in court.