Israel envoy urges Poles to rein in radical priest

WARSAW, July 13 (Reuters) Israel's ambassador called on Poland's government and the Catholic church today to take action against a radical religious radio station for spreading anti-Semitism in the predominantly Catholic country.

David Peleg, Israel's ambassador in Warsaw said he was disappointed that Radio Maryja and its founder Father Tadeusz Rydzyk had not been punished for repeatedly insulting Jews and their culture.

''For many months, I have brought the anti-Semitic statements on the radio to the attention of the highest Polish Church officials,'' Peleg told Reuters.

''We are also waiting for the government to make a statement condemning these remarks,'' Peleg said.

The Vatican has rebuked the controversial broadcaster for meddling in politics and for its xenophobic statements.

But the ruling conservatives in Poland have defended the station and the radical priest whose support helped them come to power in 2005 elections.

Millions of poor and elderly Poles listen to the radio station and their votes helped ensure election victory for Polish Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski and his twin brother Lech, the president.

Peleg's appeal comes after mainstream weekly Wprost published extracts of Rydzyk's speech at his own university where he accused the ''Jewish lobby'' of trying to extort millions from the Polish state.

''I am shocked by these statements but I am not surprised. Radio Maryja is doing this all the time without any consequences,'' Peleg said.

The broadcaster has repeatedly suggested in the past that Jews were taking advantage of the Holocaust for economic gain, referring to Jewish groups as ''Holocaust incorporated''.

Polish Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski regularly appears on the station. Last week he took part in a mass attended by 100,000 Radio Maryja supporters, telling them they were the Poles he cared for most.

Poland had the biggest Jewish population in Europe until World War Two, but the murder of millions in the Holocaust under German occupation and an anti-Semitic campaign by post war communist authorities left only a few thousand in the country.

REUTERS ARB BD1805