PM Orban says he will invite Israeli PM Netanyahu to Hungary after ICC move

Orban said the ICC's arrest warrant was "wrong" and said the Israeli leader would be able to conduct negotiations in Hungary "in adequate safety".

By REUTERS NOVEMBER 22, 2024 09:15 Updated: NOVEMBER 22, 2024 09:59

Former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets with Hungary's controversial right-wing, anti-immigrant prime minister, Viktor Orban who is visiting Israel (photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM)

Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Friday he would invite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to visit Hungary, saying he would guarantee that an International Criminal Court arrest warrant against Netanyahu would "not be observed".

The ICC issued arrest warrants on Thursday for Netanyahu and his former defense chief, as well as a Hamas leader, Ibrahim Al-Masri, for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza conflict.

Orban, whose country holds the European Union's rotating six-month presidency, told state radio that the ICC's arrest warrant was "wrong" and said the Israeli leader would be able to conduct negotiations in Hungary "in adequate safety".

"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," Orban said.

Since Orban and his nationalist Fidesz party swept to power in 2010, he and Netanyahu have forged close political relations. Netanyahu visited Budapest in 2017.

PRIME MINISTER Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant confer in the Knesset plenum last month. Many Israelis are thirsty for a decisive Israeli victory and a long-term strategy in order to finally live in peace and without existential threat, the writer asserts. (credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90)

Leaders condemn the ICC decision

Israeli leaders and the White House have strongly condemned the ICC decision, while EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the warrants were not political and that all EU member states should respect and implement the court decision.

Within the EU, Hungary and the Czech Republic have been strong backers of Israel, while countries such as Spain and Ireland stress their support for the Palestinians.

The Czech Foreign Ministry, responding to the ICC decision, said Prague would respect its international legal obligations.

However, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala called the ICC decision "unfortunate", saying on X late on Thursday: "(The move) undermines its authority in other cases when it equates the elected representatives of a democratic state with the leaders of an Islamist terrorist organization."