A public dispute broke out between Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski following an incident involving an IDF soldier in southern Lebanon, triggering a broader exchange over military conduct and antisemitism.

The disagreement began when Sa’ar addressed the incident in which a Christian religious symbol was damaged by an Israeli soldier, condemning the act in strong terms as “grave and disgraceful.” He praised the IDF for promptly denouncing the behavior and initiating an investigation into what occurred.

“This shameful action is completely contrary to our values,” Sa’ar wrote, underscoring Israel’s respect for all faiths and their sacred symbols. He also expressed regret over the incident and apologized to members of the Christian community who were offended.

Sikorski responded in Polish, acknowledging Sa’ar’s swift apology while adding that “there was something to apologize for.” He called for disciplinary measures against the soldier and suggested that the episode should prompt a reassessment of military training practices. Sikorski went further, alleging that Israeli soldiers themselves have admitted to war crimes, including harm to Palestinian Arab civilians and even Israeli hostages.

Sa’ar pushed back sharply, dismissing the accusations as “unfounded” and “defamatory.” He said Sikorski’s comments demonstrated “ignorance and a deep lack of understanding.”

Expanding on the issue, Sa’ar noted that all wars involve unintended incidents, including friendly fire, and that civilian casualties can occur—especially in situations where terrorists operate among civilian populations. He stressed that the IDF conducts its operations with a level of precision and intelligence that surpasses other Western militaries and consistently works to limit harm to noncombatants.

“The IDF is a professional and ethical army,” Sa’ar stated, adding that for 78 years it has faced continuous attempts to eliminate the State of Israel by hostile states and terrorist organizations.

He also maintained that Western armies study Israel’s military experience and that European civilians ultimately benefit from the outcomes of its counterterror operations.

Sa’ar further called on Sikorski to address what he described as a “disgraceful antisemitic display” that took place in Poland’s parliament the previous week, warning against what he characterized as reckless rhetoric.

The incident referenced involved Polish lawmaker Konrad Berkowicz from the far-right Confederation party, who defaced an Israeli flag at the parliamentary podium on Holocaust Remembrance Day. He replaced the Star of David with a swastika and accused Israel of being “the new Third Reich.” The Israeli Embassy in Warsaw condemned the act as an “antisemitic atrocity,” while senior Polish officials, including the Speaker of Parliament, also denounced the behavior and called for legal consequences.

Sikorski replied that he had already condemned the antisemitic act when it occurred and pointed out that the lawmaker involved had been disciplined by the Speaker of parliament. He added that if his remarks did not lead to changes in IDF training, there was little more he could do.

In his response, Sikorski also included a Haaretz article that cited claims from soldiers alleging involvement in war crimes.