Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban has stated that he would invite Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to visit Hungary and would guarantee that an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant against Netanyahu would not be observed. This stance by Orban contrasts with several European leaders who have promised to respect the court’s decision, with Ireland’s prime minister Simon Harris indicating that his country would be prepared to arrest Netanyahu if he visited. The ICC had 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 European Union’s rotating presidency, criticized the ICC’s arrest warrant as “wrong” and assured Netanyahu of safety during negotiations in Hungary. Netanyahu and Orban have a history of close political relations, with Netanyahu having visited Budapest in 2017. Israeli leaders and the White House have condemned the ICC decision, while EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell stressed the need for all EU member states to respect and implement the court’s decision.
Within the EU, Hungary and the Czech Republic have been strong supporters of Israel. While the Czech Foreign Ministry has stated that it will respect its international legal obligations, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala expressed disappointment in the ICC decision, arguing that it undermines the court’s authority in other cases. Overall, the situation highlights the political divisions within the EU regarding the ICC’s decision and its implications for international relations.
Photo credit
www.nbcnews.com
