Brussels has demanded that Poland arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should he step foot on European soil to attend the 80th-anniversary commemoration of the liberation of Auschwitz.
After Poland announced it would guarantee the safe and unrestricted participation of Israeli officials who wished to attend the event later this month, the European Commission expressed its dissatisfaction and urged Warsaw to respect the warrant.
“The EU supports the International Criminal Court International and respects the independence and impartiality of the Court. The Commission asks all Member States to cooperate with the Court, including the execution of the mandates of arrest,” said a Commission spokesperson as cited by Italian news agency Ansa.
Netanyahu is the subject of an outstanding international arrest warrant for alleged war crimes pertaining to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
He is not currently scheduled to attend the event in Poland due to the legal uncertainties.
“It is not the Commission’s task to implement the arrest warrants and we note that we do not currently know which one Israeli representative will take part in the ceremony,” the Commission added.
The Polish government announcement on Thursday followed a direct appeal from President Andrzej Duda to Prime Minister Donald Tusk to ensure Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s immunity despite the outstanding warrant.
“The Government of the Republic of Poland declares that it will provide free and safe access to and participation in these celebrations for the highest representatives of the State of Israel,” Prime Minister Tusk’s office stated, as reported by Rzeczpospolita.
The government emphasized that ensuring Israeli leaders’ safety at the event reflects respect for the millions of Jewish victims of Nazi atrocities.
The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu in November for alleged war crimes, creating a diplomatic conundrum for Poland. Deputy Foreign Minister Władysław Bartoszewski had previously reemphasized Poland’s commitment to the ICC’s rulings, stating last month, “We are obliged to respect the decisions of the International Criminal Court in The Hague.”
President Duda’s appeal framed the situation as an exceptional case requiring careful balancing of legal commitments and diplomatic sensitivities. “If the acting Prime Minister of the State of Israel, Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu, expresses his will to personally participate in the ceremonial celebrations… the government of the Republic of Poland should guarantee him an undisturbed stay,” Duda wrote in his letter to Tusk.
While Rzeczpospolita characterized the government’s decision as a 180-degree turn, Tusk’s office asserted that the policy shift had been under consideration for days and was not the result of the president’s initiative.
“Poland is a safe country, and every leader coming to Poland is entitled to the protection provided by the Ministry of Interior and Administration,” added Paweł Wroński, a foreign ministry spokesperson.
