The Polish authorities announced on Thursday that they will make sure top Israeli officials can attend the upcoming 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz without interference. This follows a request by Poland’s president for assurances that Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu would not face arrest for alleged war crimes in Gaza.
According to an aide for Netanyahu, the Israeli premier has no plans to attend the ceremony. This was disclosed on Thursday, shortly after an aide to Polish President Andrzej Duda revealed that Duda had asked Prime Minister Donald Tusk to provide a guarantee for Netanyahu’s security.
Reports from Polish media last month indicated that Netanyahu was unlikely to attend events marking the liberation of Auschwitz in late January. The concerns stemmed from Poland’s stated obligation to enforce an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) related to Netanyahu’s actions during the conflict in Gaza.
Duda’s aide, Malgorzata Paprocka, confirmed on Thursday that the Polish president had written to Tusk, stating, “to ensure that Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu is able to participate in the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, should he express such a wish.”
Paprocka further quoted Duda on X, saying, “Every person from Israel, every official from that country, should be able to take part in this unique event.”
Bloomberg, the first outlet to report on the letter, said Duda requested that any visit by Netanyahu be “unhindered” due to the “absolutely exceptional circumstances” surrounding the event.
In the letter, Duda reportedly urged the Polish government to create a “suitable framework” to ensure Netanyahu’s safety while adhering to international legal standards. Bloomberg also noted that Duda’s relationship with the Polish government has been contentious, raising doubts about whether his appeal would be acted upon.
When asked by TVP Info, a government-run news channel, whether Poland would guarantee Netanyahu’s immunity, Deputy Prime Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski dismissed the issue, stating, “There is no such topic, because Mr Netanyahu is not coming to Europe.”
A senior Netanyahu aide emphasized that resolving the ICC warrant issue is a prerequisite for any potential visit. The aide, speaking anonymously, said, “We’ll look into [coming] if we receive an invitation. For now, it’s not in the program.” They added, “First of all, they’ll have to solve the ICC issue.”
The main event commemorating the liberation of Auschwitz is set for International Holocaust Remembrance Day on January 27. It is expected to draw numerous world leaders, including Britain’s King Charles.
The Polish newspaper Rzeczpospolita reported in December that Israeli officials had not reached out to their Polish counterparts regarding participation in the ceremony. Polish officials believe this is due to the ICC arrest warrant, which Poland has pledged to enforce in line with its international obligations.
When approached for comment, Poland’s deputy foreign minister reaffirmed the country’s commitment to upholding ICC warrants.
The report also noted that Israeli President Isaac Herzog is not planning to attend the event. This contrasts with former President Reuven Rivlin, who participated in the 75th-anniversary commemoration.
Since neither Netanyahu nor Herzog is expected to attend, Education Minister Yoav Kisch will likely represent Israel at the ceremony, according to his spokesperson.
Netanyahu has refrained from traveling to Europe since the ICC issued arrest warrants in November for him and former defense minister Yoav Gallant. The charges allege war crimes and crimes against humanity during the Gaza conflict. The ICC has also issued a warrant for Hamas military chief Muhammad Deif, whom Israel claims has been killed.
As a signatory to the ICC’s founding treaty, Poland is obligated to enforce its arrest warrants. However, it remains unclear whether other European Union nations would follow suit. France has stated that it believes Netanyahu is immune from ICC action since Israel is not a party to the court. Italy has also indicated that arresting Netanyahu would be impractical while he serves as Israel’s prime minister.
{Matzav.com}
Recent Comments