Israeli Ambassador visits Kraków

On 15 November 2024 the Israeli Ambassador to Poland, H.E. Dr Yacov Livne, met for the first time with Kraków Mayor Aleksander Miszalski.

During the courtesy meeting the Ambassador referred to the recent antisemitic incidents that took place in Kraków. Mayor Miszalski explained the formal and legal prerequisites in such situations and reaffirmed the city's openness and inclusive urban policy towards all national, ethnic and religious minorities. He also expressed his opposition to all acts of vandalism and language inciting violence and hatred.

The Mayor also highlighted the active and successful cooperation with Kraków's Jewish community, which has resulted in many successful projects and initiatives, with the most famous Festival of Jewish Culture at the forefront.

For the Ambassador, one of the most important tools for preventing regrettable incidents is to strengthen education about the history of Polish-Jewish relations, particularly deeply rooted in Kraków, where the Jewish community was one of the largest in the world. Also important are the activities of institutions such as the Galicia Museum in Kraków and the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews in Warsaw.

The Ambassador also repeated his call for Kraków to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's (IHRA) definition of antisemitism. As assured by the Mayor, the city is actively engaged in a dialogue with organisations representing its Jewish community, including in the context of recommendations for the development of the implementation of this definition. Once this work is completed, a decision will be taken on its adoption.

Another topic discussed at the meeting was the development of a road map for the prevention of anti-Semitism. After all, the peaceful coexistence of nations and all minorities is a value inextricably linked to respect for human rights.