It is "absolutely outrageous" that Poland has threatened to arrest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he visits the country to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz on Jan. 27, but not expected, Kurt Volker, a former U.S. ambassador to NATO, said on Newsmax Sunday.
The threat was expected, Volker told Newsmax's "Sunday Report," because Poland and other countries in Europe have signed a treaty with the International Criminal Court for arrests on warrants.
"They have obligations to respect those decisions," said Volker. "But it is absolutely outrageous and reflects an unreasonable antisemitic bias in the court."
In November, the ICC charged Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant with alleged war crimes. Under the Rome Statute, which all European Union countries have signed, nations are legally obligated to execute ICC arrest warrants.
Retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Tony Shaffer, also on Sunday's program, said that Poland's announcement was a "woke reaction" to the war.
"They're trying to criminalize the right of self-defense, both at the personal level, regarding the policy decisions that Netanyahu has made and the fact that the Israelis were attacked," he said.
"This is the Europeans being woke, attempting to kind of pick up the mantle of the protesters we see here in the United States who have been supportive of Hamas doing the things which they did."
Shaffer added that the European nations are obligated to say "'enough's enough'" and "maybe even consider breaking their obligations because Netanyahu has every right to be at that ceremony. I think he should be."
Volker and Shaffer also on Sunday discussed the news from Germany that a car was driven through a Christmas market, killing five and injuring more than 200 others.
"Well, I'm concerned, first off, that the German government apparently ignored warnings from Saudi Arabia about this individual," said Volker about the suspect. "I'm surprised that there were not tighter security restrictions around Christmas markets like this because they have been subject to terrorist attacks."
Shaffer agreed that there should be concerns about copycats, just as there have been in other similar incidents.
"It's sad, but anything like a car, a truck, these things can all be used as weapons in the hands of terrorists or crazy people," said Shaffer. "So my advice to everybody is always be aware of your environment; be vigilant to those things going on around you, and you're the best person to protect you and your family is yourself … just be aware that the evil has no holiday, and holidays are essentially an opportunity for people to take advantage."
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