Cohen heads to Poland to sign agreement for resumption of youth trips

Ties between Jerusalem and Warsaw have been strained following the Polish passage in 2018 of legislation against speaking of Polish complicity in the death of Jews during World War II.

Foreign Affairs Minister Eli Cohen seen before the arrival of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem, January 30, 2023. (photo credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90)
Foreign Affairs Minister Eli Cohen seen before the arrival of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem, January 30, 2023.
(photo credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90)

An agreement for the resumption of high school trips to concentration camps in Poland will be signed this Wednesday between the two countries when Foreign Minister Eli Cohen visits Warsaw this week. 

“We will officially restore the youth delegation from Israel to Poland,” Cohen said.

He will meet in Warsaw the Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau, as part of his ministry's efforts to fully restore positive relations between the two countries.

Foreign Ministry Director General Ronen “Maoz” Levy was in Poland last week along with officials from the Education Ministry to lay the groundwork for a final agreement on the restoration of the trips.

The high school trips were suspended last year due to a dispute with respect to the curriculum and the presence of armed security guards. 

Polish and Israeli flags at a march next to Auschwitz in April (credit: REUTERS)
Polish and Israeli flags at a march next to Auschwitz in April (credit: REUTERS)

Those issues have now been resolved.

Ties between Jerusalem and Warsaw have been strained following the Polish passage in 2018 of legislation against speaking of Polish complicity in the death of Jews during World War II.