The Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith today expressed concern that Poland’s new ambassador to Rome, Kazimierz Sidor, might jeopardize developing relations between the Vatican and Israel.
Arnold Forster, the League’s general counsel. cited Sidor as an “extreme anti-Semite” and an “ardent enemy of Israel.” He said that for some time there have been reports that the Vatican is interested in a rapprochement with Poland, a predominantly Catholic country. It was noted, for instance, that several years ago negotiations were begun on a possible trip by the Pope to that country. The talks ended when the Polish government was overthrown.
Forster said that although Poland has no ambassador to the Vatican–as is the case with most nations–an ambassador to Rome is usually considered his nation’s envoy to the Holy See. He explained that it is thought that Sidor may play a role in developing that rapprochement and in doing so might seriously hurt developing relations between Israel and the Vatican because of his “distinctly anti-Israel, anti-Jewish attitudes.”
SIDOR’S PAST HISTORY CITED
The League said that Sidor’s reputation as an anti-Semite came to light during his service as an aide to Gen. Mieczslaw Moczar, former Polish
Sidor has a lengthy history of Polish diplomatic service. From 1956-65 he served as ambassador to Iran, Afghanistan, Egypt, Somalia, Yemen, and Libya. As a result of his service in Cairo he wrote a book, “Revolution Under the Pyramids.” The book, published in 1968 is strikingly similar to the long discredited anti-Semitic diatribe, “Protocols of the Elders of Zion.”
“Revolution” contains Sidor’s version of Jewish history. Like the “Protocols,” Forster said, “it is replete with misquotes, misinterpretations, contradictions and blatant anti-Semitic canards.” Its basic premise is that “an international Jewish conspiracy” has long sought to take over the Middle East and that the motivation of this ambition is the “making of money and the establishment of tyrannical political power.” Forster noted that Sidor’s theme in discussing the Arab-Israeli wars is one of Israeli aggression and atrocities toward Arabs.
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.
