Viktor Orban Photo: Martyn Wheatley / Keystone Press Agency / Global Look Press
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has said he will invite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Budapest despite the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant for him. Orban guaranteed that the warrant would not be executed on the territory of Hungary, which currently holds the presidency of the European Union, Reuters reports.
In an interview with state radio on Friday, Orban called the ICC’s decision “wrong” and assured that Netanyahu would be able to stay in Hungary “with all the necessary security measures”.
ICC and the arrest warrant
The ICC has issued arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu, former Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and Hamas leader Mohammed Deif on suspicion of war crimes and crimes against humanity during the Gaza conflict.
EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell said that the ICC’s decision obliges all 124 member states of the Court, including the EU, to execute the arrest warrant. “This is not a political decision, but a legal one, and it must be respected,” Borrell said.
Hungary’s position
Hungary, a signatory to the Rome Statute establishing the ICC, has previously demonstrated a failure to comply with the Court’s rulings. In May, Orbán’s chief of staff, Gergely Gulyás, said that the country’s provisions for the execution of ICC judgments were not yet fully in place.
Last year, Budapest announced that it would not execute an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin issued by the ICC over war crimes in Ukraine.
Orbán’s invitation to Netanyahu was yet another indication of the special relationship between Budapest and Israel. Hungary actively supports Israel in the international arena and often opposes EU decisions that criticise Tel Aviv’s actions.
Orban’s decision could exacerbate Hungary’s relations with other EU countries that call for compliance with international law. Against the backdrop of Hungary’s EU presidency, this issue could become another challenge for the bloc.
