Netanyahu meets Polish president for first time since controversial Holocaust law

Earlier this year, Poland passed a law that allowed for a jail sentence of up to three years to be imposed on those who used the term “Polish concentration camps” for Nazi death camps, thereby creating a rift in its relationship with Israel.

By TOVAH LAZAROFF
Updated: SEPTEMBER 27, 2018 08:10
Polish President Andrzej Duda and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meet in New York on September 26, 2018. (photo credit: AVI OHAYON - GPO)
Polish President Andrzej Duda and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meet in New York on September 26, 2018.
(photo credit: AVI OHAYON - GPO)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held his first meeting with Polish President Andrzej Duda since a controversial law about Nazi death camps created a crisis between the otherwise strong allies.
Duda and Netanyahu shook hands and smiled for the camera on Wednesday on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
It is not the first meeting between the two men – Duda visited Israel in January of 2017, and even laid a wreath at the grave of Netanyahu’s brother Yoni.
Earlier this year, Poland passed a law that allowed for a jail sentence of up to three years to be imposed on those who used the term “Polish concentration camps” for Nazi death camps, thereby creating a rift in its relationship with Israel.
The law was amended and the issue of jail time dropped, but the restoration of warm ties has gone slowly.
The meeting comes as Poland is pushing for more military support from the United States, to ensure protection from its eastern neighbors.
Earlier this month, Duda met with Trump at the White House.
Also Wednesday, Netanyahu met with Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales and thanked him for following the US example and moving its embassy to Jerusalem.
“The two discussed the continued strengthening of bilateral economic and commercial relations, and relations in other fields,” according to the PMO.
Netanyahu also met with Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel. The two discussed strengthening cooperation and agreed on bilateral cooperation in digital health.