A majority of MKs from both the coalition and the opposition backed a proposed amendment to Israel's Denial of Holocaust (Prohibition) Law on Wednesday, in a bid to outlaw denying or downplaying the involvement of Nazi helpers and collaborators in the crimes of the Holocaust.
In the wake of public outrage in Israel over legislative progress in the Polish parliament on a bill that would outlaw suggesting Poland bears responsibility for Nazi crimes on its soil, 61 MKs signed the proposal, authored by Zionist Union MK Itzik Shmuli.
Currently, the law banning public denial of the Holocaust in Israel carries a penalty of up to five years in prison. Along with denying the Holocaust, the law forbids minimizing the scope of the Holocaust or identifying with the crimes of the Holocaust against the Jewish people. The proposed amendment would effectively equate denying or downplaying the shared responsibility of Nazi accomplices and collaborators with the criminal infraction of denying the Holocaust, making it also punishable by up to five years in prison.
Although Poland was occupied by Nazi Germany during World War II – a war in which millions of Poles were killed by the Nazis – many Poles assisted the Nazis, just as locals did in other countries.
Likewise, the amendment would ensure full legal representation for any Holocaust survivor, teacher or tour guide who might be prosecuted under the new Polish legislation, should it become law. The concern is that in a testimony or a classroom, a survivor or teacher might insist on pointing out Polish culpability in the Holocaust and thereby violate the Polish law, exposing them to prosecution. The aim of the amendment is to ensure that these individuals are able to continue telling the historical truth without fear of facing a penalty.
"It is important that the Poles, and others who may follow their lead, know that the Jewish people's historical truth is not for sale," Shmuli remarked in defense of his amendment. "Many Poles and others heard, knew, and assisted the Nazi killing machine. The Polish attempt to rewrite history and silence the Holocaust survivors is an affront. It is despicable and it is shocking."
"We won't allow the accomplices hide behind the Nazis and evade their historical culpability," he concluded.
Yesh Atid Chairman Yair Lapid also addressed the issue, saying Wednesday that "Polish attempts to dissociate themselves from their responsibility for killing of millions of Jews in the Holocaust only emphasizes the need to act quickly against such voices."
Israel Beytenu faction leader MK Robert Ilatov said that "it is our moral duty and responsibility to commemorate their heroism and to make sure that no one tries to conceal, cover up or scrub the terrible crimes from the history books or the testimonies of the crimes against the Jewish people."
