Noa Kirel, who represented Israel in this year’s Eurovision contest, received 12 points from Poland during the final competition.
Afterwards, Kirel was quoted as saying that from her perspective, “Receiving 12 points from Poland after nearly the entire Kirel family was murdered in the Holocaust – that is a victory.”
Kirel’s statements raised a storm, with the popular paper Do Rzeczy commenting, “The Israeli artist recalled the Holocaust, and blamed the Poles for the murder of Jews.”

Polish MP Anna Maria Żukowska tweeted, “Does this statement reflect the level of education about the Holocaust in Israel? Do young people in Israel think that the Holocaust was caused by Poland, over which a young Israeli citizen can achieve a moral victory after many years, or what?”
Poland’s Deputy Foreign Minister Paweł Jabłoński tweeted, “”The fact that many people in Israel consider Poland to be an accomplice to German crimes – and not their victim – is often the result not so much of bad will as lack of knowledge and incomplete education.”
Jabłoński also added that he intends to invite Kirel for an official visit to his country.