Hungary’s Orban rejects ICC’s arrest warrant for Netanyahu, contradicting neighboring countries

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban stated that he would invite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to visit Hungary and would guarantee that an International Criminal Court arrest warrant against Netanyahu would not be observed. This statement contrasts with several European leaders who have promised to respect the court’s decision. Ireland’s prime minister, Simon Harris, said that his country would be prepared to arrest Netanyahu if he visited. The ICC has issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu, former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza conflict. Orban, who holds the EU’s rotating presidency, called the ICC’s warrant “wrong” and promised Netanyahu safety during negotiations in Hungary. Orban has a close political relationship with Netanyahu, and both have condemned the ICC decision. The EU has called on member states to respect and implement the court’s decision, while Hungary and the Czech Republic, strong backers of Israel within the EU, have expressed concerns about the ruling. Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala called the decision “unfortunate” and said it undermines the ICC’s authority. Netanyahu visited Budapest in 2017, and the two leaders have maintained strong ties since Orban’s rise to power in 2010.

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