Did Polish MEP Michal Kaminski, from Poland’s Law and Justice party, lie about charges of anti-semitism?

The Tories have been trying to push back at accusations against him, made recently in the New Statesman by James Macintyre.

That lead to a war of words between Tory MEP Dan Hannan and Macintyre, detailed here.

Michal Kaminski is a key member of David Cameron’s new grouping in the European parliament and is an important ally. In his support Stephen Pollard recently wrote in the Daily Telegraph:

A further accusation is that, in an interview, he [Kaminski] said that he would apologise [for the Jedwabne massacre] only if someone “from the Jewish side” apologised for what “the Jews” did during the Soviet occupation of eastern Poland from 1939 to 1941. Mr Kaminski flatly denies this, and no one has produced a shred of evidence to contradict him.

But Toby Helm at the Observer chased up this claim and writes on his blog:

Kaminski does indeed deny this. But perhaps he should stop denying it. Here is the evidence. In 2001 Kaminski gave an interview to the Polish weekly paper Nasza Polska. Three weeks ago he flatly denied to the Observer that he ever gave the interview. In fact he said he had never spoken to a journalist from this paper, which often carries – how can one say it – pieces that would not always delight Jewish people. So the Observer emailed the editor of Nasza Polska, Piotr Jakucki, to see what he had to say.

A few days later, Jakucki replied, confirming that “Kaja Bogomilska made an interview with deputy Michal Kaminski in person”, making him aware she was from Nasza Polska.

The issue is no longer just about charges of anti-semitism, says Helm, but “about honesty and judgment. Kaminski’s honesty and Cameron’s judgment.”

Will Kaminski own up? Will Tories stop defending him and crying ‘smear’? We’ll have to wait and see.

Reader comments

1. Liberal Conspiracy

   : Kaminski caught lying on Jewish apology? http://bit.ly/31eHwV

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2. Paranormal Guru

   Liberal Conspiracy » Kaminski caught lying on Jewish apology?: About the author: Chris is a regular contributor .. http://bit.ly/1prK2e

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3. Liberal Conspiracy

   : Kaminski caught lying on Jewish apology? http://bit.ly/31eHwV

   [Original tweet]

4. Paranormal Guru

   Liberal Conspiracy » Kaminski caught lying on Jewish apology?: About the author: Chris is a regular contributor .. http://bit.ly/1prK2e

   [Original tweet]

5. The Tory showdown in Europe for the continues « Raincoat Optimism

   [...] character is of great interest. He is now unable to deny calls of anti-semitism against him despite the best efforts of right-wing Tories such as Dan Hannan who has also been known to stick [...]

6. Tom Miller

   More on Kaminsky http://bit.ly/31eHwV

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