May 15, 2019 — New York
American Jewish Committee (AJC) is stunned by the attack on Poland’s Ambassador to Israel, Marek Magierowski, and grateful that he was not physically harmed. Israeli police have detained a 65-year-old man who verbally assaulted and spat on the ambassador near the embassy in Tel Aviv.
“Violence against a diplomat is totally unacceptable. The assault on Ambassador Magierowski is outrageous, but must not be allowed to inflame the bilateral relationship,” said AJC CEO David Harris. “Continued dialogue between Israeli and Polish leaders is key to addressing any and all disagreements, and reinforcing the longstanding, strong, and mutually beneficial Israel-Poland relationship.”
Harris expressed relief that Ambassador Magierowski is safe, and praised Israeli authorities for quickly apprehending the assailant.
Israeli Judge Alana Masarwa’a said at the arraignment “that an assault and spitting at a diplomatic personage is contemptible and makes the [assailant] an embarrassment to the rest of Israel’s citizens.”
AJC, the leading global Jewish advocacy organization, has for decades been a leader in advancing Polish-Jewish dialogue and deepening Polish-Israeli ties. The AJC Central Europe office, established in 2017, is based in Warsaw.