Recently, a surprising letter surfaced from Polish President Andrzej Duda directed to Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki. In this correspondence, Duda urged that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu be afforded “an undisturbed stay” should he choose to attend the upcoming 80th commemoration of Auschwitz’s liberation slated for later this month.
According to reports from the Polish newspaper ‘Wyborcza,’ officials within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were caught off guard by the letter Duda dispatched on Wednesday, which was made public the following day.
As of now, it remains uncertain whether Netanyahu, who is currently facing an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) related to alleged war crimes in Gaza, will make an appearance at the poignant ceremony on January 27 at the site of the former Nazi German extermination camp located in southern Poland.
Diplomats from Poland had anticipated that an Israeli delegation led by Education Minister Yoav Kisch would represent Israel at this significant historic event, further emphasizing the unexpected nature of President Duda’s letter.
It’s important to note that Poland is a member of the ICC and is legally bound to comply with its rulings.
Nevertheless, a statement from the Polish government issued yesterday articulated that, “Facilitating the secure involvement of Israeli leaders in the memorials on January 27, 2025, is viewed by the Polish government as a gesture of respect towards the Jewish community, whose millions suffered at the hands of the Holocaust perpetrated by the Third Reich.”
Bloomberg reports that Duda characterized the 80th anniversary of Auschwitz’s liberation as “a circumstance of utmost importance,” insisting that Polish authorities should ensure that Netanyahu could have “an undisturbed stay” if he chose to attend.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk reinforced the sentiment, asserting, “It’s evident to me that any Israeli state representative deserves the right to attend, especially on such a significant anniversary.” He pledged that the Polish government would facilitate unrestricted and secure access for high-ranking Israeli officials at the commemorative events.
However, it seems that Duda’s correspondence also managed to catch Tusk’s office off guard. During a press gathering at the Polish parliament, Tusk expressed his intention to ask Duda to consider different methods of communication for sensitive matters rather than through public announcements.
Furthermore, various Israeli media outlets have indicated that Netanyahu currently has no plans to travel to Poland for the anniversary.
Interestingly, Israel does not recognize the ICC’s authority and disputes the legitimacy of the arrest warrant against Netanyahu.
Anticipation is high for the 80th anniversary memorial, with foreign dignitaries and diplomats expected to attend. This event may likely be one of the final significant commemorations that living Holocaust survivors, many of whom are now in their late 80s and early 90s, will be able to participate in.
During its dark history, around 1 million Jewish lives were extinguished at Auschwitz, a death camp established by Nazi Germany in occupied southern Poland during World War II. Other victims included Poles, Roma, and various ethnic groups subjected to the Nazi regime’s brutal reign across Europe. Ultimately, more than six million Jews lost their lives during the Holocaust at the hands of the Nazis.
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
