Despite ICC arrest warrants: Hungary’s PM Orbán invites Netanyahu to visit, vows warrants will be ignored

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán will invite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to visit Hungary despite the recent arrest warrants issued against him by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Speaking to Hungarian state radio on Friday, Orbán said the warrants were “wrong” and vowed not to observe them.

“Today I will invite Israel’s prime minister, Mr. Netanyahu, for a visit to Hungary, and in that invite, I will guarantee him that if he comes, the ICC ruling will have no effect in Hungary, and we will not follow its contents,” Orbán stated.

Hungary is among Israel's closest allies in the European Union. On Thursday, the ICC issued arrest warrants against Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, accusing them of war crimes, starvation, and crimes against humanity committed in the Gaza War.

Hungary and a few other countries were in the minority among EU members and other Western states, many of which announced they would follow the court’s ruling and arrest Netanyahu and Gallant if they entered their country.

Outgoing EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell, who has been heavily criticized for his anti-Israeli positions, stressed that the “decisions are binding on all states party to the Rome Statute, which includes all EU member states.”

However, Hungary’s foreign minister, Péter Szijjártó, called the ICC decision “shameful and absurd.”

“It is absurd to create an equivalence between members of a democratically elected government and the leader of a terrorist organization,” Szijjártó added. 

Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg said the ruling was “utterly incomprehensible” and did a “disservice to the court’s credibility.” 

While Petr Fiala, the prime minister of the Czech Republic – which is widely regarded as an ally of Israel – called the ruling “unfortunate,” his foreign minister stated that the country would respect its international legal obligations.

Several other countries, including France, Belgium and Ireland, have already vowed to enforce the ICC’s warrants.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced, “We will abide by all the regulations and rulings of the international court. That’s just who we are as Canadians.” 

Other countries, like Italy and Germany, said they would take some time before making a definitive decision.

Among those who vowed to fulfill the arrest warrants was Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp, who was set to visit Israel next week. After his announcement, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said the visit was canceled.

“Minister Sa’ar expressed his disappointment, in the name of the government of Israel and the people of Israel, over his announcement in the Dutch parliament following the decision of the International Criminal Court in The Hague,” Sa’ar’s office said.

“It was agreed that the visit by the Dutch foreign minister to Israel that had been planned for next Monday – would not take place,” the statement said.

Opposition Leader Yair Lapid criticized Sa’ar’s “hasty” decision, accusing him of further isolating Israel.

“The goal is not to isolate Israel even more, but to use smart political tools to build a coalition that will oppose the arrest warrants of The Hague. To boycott the world is an understandable emotional reaction, but it’s no way to build a diplomatic campaign,” Lapid added.

Sa’ar then hit back at Lapid, who also served as Israel's foreign minister between June 2021 and 2022.

“Lacking national pride as well as diplomatic wisdom should be no cause for pride… note that there are countries, including in Europe, such as Austria and Hungary, that chose to respond differently to The Hague’s outrageous decision. We’re done bowing our heads. Your way has been exhausted.”