Polish deputy PM visits Israel, honours Holocaust victims

He said Yad Vashem, which aims to honour non-Jews who during World War II risked their lives to save Jews from extermination by the Nazis, “is where human diginity has been restored to each and every victim of the Holocaust."

Gowin also said that during the Holocaust, Nazi Germany sought to deprive people of "not only their lives but also their humanity."

He said that Holocaust victims are also remembered in Poland, public broadcaster Polish Radio’s IAR news agency reported.

More than 6,600 ethnic Poles are commemorated in Israel's Garden of the Righteous in Jerusalem for aiding Jews during World War II.

Talking Polish-Israeli ties

Gowin was later in the day scheduled to talk about Polish-Israeli relations with Yad Vashem chairman Avner Shalev, IAR said.

The talks were expected to focus on topics including an anti-defamation law that has soured Polish-Israeli relations, according to IAR.

Polish-Israeli ties became strained when the Polish parliament earlier this year passed legislation that could see a jail term imposed on anyone who accuses Poland of being complicit in Nazi German crimes during World War II.

While in Jerusalem, Gowin was also scheduled to take part in an international scientific conference as part of celebrations of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the state of Israel.

Gowin, who is also Poland’s minister for science and higher education, met Israel’s Science, Technology and Space Minister Ofir Akunis on the first day of his visit to Israel on Sunday.

(gs/pk)

Source: IAR/PAP