Meeting between heads of diplomacy of Poland and Israel
23.03.2023
On 22 March 2023, Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau met in Warsaw with his Israeli counterpart Eli Cohen. The talks covered bilateral relations and the most important items currently on the international agenda, including the Russian aggression against Ukraine and the increase of tension in Israeli-Palestinian relations.
Minister Rau stressed willingness to step up Polish-Israeli bilateral relations based on mutual respect and understanding, and expressed hope that joint efforts would be continued to settle matters on which Poland and Israel hold divergent views.
The two sides agreed that promoting people-to-people contacts, particularly among young people, is the best way to build and intensify relations between Polish and Israeli citizens that would be free of negative stereotypes and mutual prejudices.
The ministers also discussed preparations for events marking the 80th anniversary of the outbreak of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising and for Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s visit to Poland.
As regards Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, the Polish side stressed the need to maintain international solidarity and the efforts to make Russia face full responsibility for all unlawful actions it has committed in Ukraine, including war crimes. The head of Polish diplomacy called on the Israeli side to increase its involvement in providing multidimensional support for Ukraine.
The foreign ministers also talked about the current situation in the Middle East, with particular focus on the escalating tension in Israeli-Palestinian relations. Outlining Poland’s position, Minister Rau welcomed the fact that the two sides started talks. He stressed the need to work out a long-term vision of settling the conflict in line with internationally agreed parameters and to maintain the historical status quo in Jerusalem, including in Christian and Muslim places of worship. The head of the Polish MFA also expressed concern over the growing violence from settlers and stressed that Jewish settlements in the West Bank and their development are illegal from the point of view of international law.
The meeting was concluded with a ceremony to sign an Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Poland and the Government of the State of Israel on cooperation in the field of study visits of organised youth groups.
Łukasz Jasina
MFA Spokesperson
Photos: S.Indra / MFA
