Poland’s Foreign Ministry has said that Israeli Ambassador Yaakov Finkelstein responded with understanding to Warsaw’s objections over a recent Yad Vashem social media post that appeared to suggest Poland had been responsible for forcing Jews to wear identifying armbands during the Second World War. The ministry stressed that Poland had not asked for an apology, but for the historical context to be corrected to reflect that such measures were imposed by German occupation authorities.

Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski summoned the ambassador on Tuesday after the Israeli Holocaust memorial centre posted commentary on platform X referring to Poland as “the first country where Jews were forced to wear a distinguishing badge”. 

Polish officials argued that omitting explicit reference to German occupation risked misleading readers and distorting historical responsibility. Yad Vashem later pointed out that the linked article did state the German origin of the orders, though the Polish government said the wording of the post itself required adjustment.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maciej Wewiór said Deputy Minister Wojciech Zajączkowski conveyed Poland’s position during the meeting and reiterated that Yad Vashem, as a leading global institution on Holocaust scholarship, must be particularly attentive to the precision of its language. 

Warsaw hopes the disputed post will ultimately be amended and that its concerns will resonate with other institutions in Israel.

Warsaw hopes the disputed post will ultimately be amended and that its concerns will resonate with other institutions in Israel.

The controversy has prompted broader reactions across Poland. The Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum labelled the original post “false and distorting”, while the Institute of National Remembrance criticised what it described as an unacceptable simplification of history. Prime Minister Donald Tusk said he hoped the incident would “awaken attention and conscience” at Yad Vashem to prevent similar errors in the future.

Yad Vashem chairman Dani Dayan has reassured that the institution consistently presents the historical realities of Nazi occupation, including Poland’s status under German occupation.

Photo: IPN

Tomasz Modrzejewski