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Polish nationalists in stand-off with pro-Israeli group

PR dla Zagranicy
Nick Hodge 18.07.2014 09:15
Polish nationalists clashed with a pro-Israeli group outside Israel's embassy in Warsaw on Thursday evening as conflict escalated in the Gaza Strip.

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A Polish nationalist confronts pro-Israeli demonstrators outside the Israeli Embassy in Warsaw. Photo: PAP/Pawel Supernak

A group of about 40 Polish nationalists gathered opposite the pro-Israeli demonstrators.

Participants from the former group carried banners of the National Revival of Poland (NOP), a far-right formation with a history of anti-semitic rhetoric.

“Today Palestine, tomorrow Poland.” proclaimed one of the banners held by nationalists.

“I won't apologize for Jedwabne,” some chanted, referring to a WWII pogrom in which Poles, allegedly encouraged by German Nazis, massacred over 100 Jews in eastern Poland in July 1941.

Photo:
Photo: PAP/Pawel Supernak

Meanwhile, demonstrators waving Israeli flags held banners of their own.

“We use anti-missile systems to protect our citizens, and Hamas uses its citizens to protect their rockets,” one read.

One pro-Israeli demonstrator wore a T-shirt with the controversial slogan: “Keep calm and bomb Hamas.”

Israel launched a ground offensive on the Gaza Strip on Thursday night, following 11 days of military operations, including aerial bombing.

Israel had claimed that Hamas had increased its missile fire in recent weeks.

The conflict escalated in the Gaza Strip after three abducted Israeli teenagers were found dead on 30 June. Israel blamed Hamas for the deaths. (nh)

Source: PAP, TVN, Gazeta Wyborcza

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