The French film, “Shoah,” widely criticized in Poland for suggesting that a large section of Polish society condoned the Nazis’ anti-Jewish wartime policies, will be shown in Poland, the World Jewish Congress reported today.
Polish government spokesman Jerzy Urban confirmed that the close to 10-hour film will be shown, while reiterating that the movie is defamatory and is being used as a pretext to continue the anti-Polish press campaign in France.
“The fact that the film will be shown displays the respect with which Polish public opinion is treated,” Urban said. “The policy is to present the facts, to speak frankly on all subjects, and to permit everyone to form their own views,” he added.
Meanwhile, in New York, WJC executive director Elan Steinberg disclosed that Edgar Bronfman, WJC president, has accepted an invitation to pay a state visit to Poland in early December.
“Polish Prime Minister Jaruzelski formally extended the invitation on behalf of the government to Mr. Bronfman during their meeting in New York on September 25, and Szymon Szurmiej, director of the Jewish Theater of Warsaw, issued an invitation in the name of the Jewish community,” Steinberg explained.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
