Jewish group: cut US ties with Poland over Holocaust law

BOSTON – A Boston Jewish organization is calling on the U.S. to suspend ties with Poland over its controversial Holocaust law.

The Ruderman Family Foundation, a philanthropic organization, is circulating an online petition and video in which supporters repeatedly say “Polish Holocaust” in defiance of the new law, which would effectively ban such statements.

The law allows for prison terms of up to three years for blaming Poles for crimes committed by Nazis who occupied Poland during World War II.

The law takes effect Feb. 28 but is being reviewed by Poland’s constitutional court. It has sparked a bitter conflict with Israel, where it is seen as trying to whitewash the actions of some Poles during the war.

The foundation says more than 3 million Polish Jews were killed in the Holocaust.