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Polish and Israeli foreign ministers discuss Israel-Hamas war and Ukraine

10.01.2024 17:40
Radosław Sikorski and Israel Katz, the Polish and Israeli foreign ministers, have today discussed a range of issues including the Israel-Hamas war. Sikorski expressed full solidarity with Israel in the face of October's Hamas attack, at the same time appealing for moderation in military responses.  
Radosław Sikorski.
Radosław Sikorski. Photo: PAP/Vladyslav Musiienko

Poland's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has published the following summary of the phone conversation between the two ministers:

"Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski held a phone conversation with his Israeli counterpart, Israel Katz. Key topics of the ministerial consultations included bilateral issues, the situation in the Middle East, and Russia’s assault on Ukraine.

[...]

As regards the situation in the Middle East, Minister Sikorski expressed his unwavering solidarity with Israel in the wake of Hamas’s attacks. At the same time, he stressed the obligation to keep the military response moderate. The ministers also addressed the continuing instability in southern Lebanon and in the Red Sea.

Speaking on Ukraine’s defence war, Minister Sikorski noted that it is essential to provide that country with further international support, which was met with understanding from the Israeli side."

However, Sikorski's encouragement of moderation in Gaza may be optimistic. Katz has for many years been considered a hard liner, opposed to a two-state solution. The Jerusalem Post reported in 2013 (when Katz was Transportation Minister):

“I am opposed to a Palestinian state,” Katz said at the start of an executive meeting of the Council of Jewish Communities of Judea, Samaria and the Gaza Strip. “It is unacceptable, mainly because of our rights to this land,’ Katz said. “In my eyes, the right diplomatic solution is an autonomous Palestinian entity, but with Jordanian civilian and political affiliation.” Katz added that Gaza should be severed from Israel and connected to Egypt.

Sources: gov.pl, The Jerusalem Post

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