World Jewish News

Jewish groups are warning the new Polish government that the inclusion of two far-right parties in its ruling coalition could ha

Jewish groups are warning the new Polish government that the inclusion of two far-right parties in its ruling coalition could hamper Warsaw's effort to rebuild its international image and reconcile with the Jewish community.
"This is really a step backwards," said Abraham Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League, who met with Polish officials on Monday in New York. "Poland worked so hard to address the past and they will now face a serious test."
Foxman and Serge Cwajgenbaum, secretary general of the European Jewish Congress, urged the Polish president and the prime minister to ask the leaders of the two parties to condemn antisemitism.
"If there are further antisemitic or xenophobic comments, we will then consider calling for European Union sanctions, but for now, we are waiting to see what happens," Cwajgenbaun said.
The wait-and-see attitude contrasted with the reaction six years ago when the Freedom Party of far-right leader Jörg Haider was invited into a coalition government in Austria, prompting fierce denunciations from Jewish groups and an unprecedented decision by the E.U. to slap sanctions on one of its members.
Poland's conservative Law and Justice Party, which garnered the most votes but failed to secure a majority in legislative elections a few months ago, reached a deal with the populist Samoobrona, or "Self Defense," party and the ultra-Catholic and nationalist League of Polish Families. Self-Defense leader Andrzej Lepper and his League of Polish Families counterpart, Roman Giertyck, were appointed deputy prime ministers, as well as, respectively, agricultural minister and education minister. Self-Defense also obtained the labor and construction ministries, while the League of Polish Families was put in charge of a newly created maritime ministry.
Foxman expressed particular concern over the nomination of Giertyck as education minister. Giertyck is a devout Catholic who has staunchly criticized homosexuality, euthanasia and abortion. He has also spoken out against Poland adopting the euro currency. In addition, Jewish groups claim his party has used anti-Jewish rhetoric

Источник: http://www.forward.com/articles/7763