WorthyNews: Hungary Invites Israeli PM After ‘Cynical ICC Ruling’ Divides Europe (Worthy News In-Depth)

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By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News reporting from Budapest, Hungary

BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán says Hungary won’t comply with a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) calling for the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

In a show of defiance, Orbán invited his Israeli counterpart to visit Hungary, saying the ICC’s ruling would not be applied in Hungary as “we will not follow its provisions.”

The world’s top war crimes court issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu and his former defense minister Yoav Gallant, alongside Hamas commander Mohammed Deif on Thursday.

The warrants accuse them of “crimes against humanity” related to the 13-month armed conflict in Gaza.

Israel claims that Deif was killed in a July airstrike, but Hamas has denied he died without providing evidence to the contrary.

The outspoken pro-Israel Orbán described the ICC’s call for the arrest of Netanyahu as “outrageously brazen and cynical” and motivated by politics.

He regards the move as an “interference in an ongoing conflict in legal disguise.”

PROVIDING SECURITY

Orbán pledged that Hungary, a European Union and NATO military alliance member state, would provide security to Netanyahu when he visits the country and prevent his arrest.

In comments monitored by the Worthy News Europe Bureau in Budapest, he said the ICC warrant would completely discredit the reputation of international law and could “add fuel to the fire” in the troubled Middle East.

The right-wing Orbán stressed he had “no other choice but to oppose” the ruling, saying Hungary would help ensure a safe visit by his political ally.

“We solely consider the quality and state of Israel-Hungary ties … Israel’s prime minister will be surrounded by suitable security to conduct substantive talks in Hungary,” he added.

Orbán’s comments were remarkable, as his Central European country currently holds the rotating EU presidency, and all 27 European Union member states, including Hungary, are part of the ICC.

The court argues that its members, 124 in total, must detain suspects if they step foot on their soil. However, experts say the ICC cannot enforce this in practice.

EU’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the ICC’s decision should be “respected and implemented” by all ICC states, but Hungary rejected his assessment.

‘PROVOCATEUR-IN-CHIEF’

Orbán is seen by his critics as the “EU’s provocateur-in-chief” has long been at odds with Brussels over themes ranging from supporting Israel’s leadership to the war in Ukraine, migration, LGBTQ+ rights, and rule-of-law issues.

Besides Hungary, Netanyahu could still travel to dozens of nations that are not ICC parties, including China, India, Israel, Russia, and the United States. Ukraine will soon become the 125th ICC member.

Ironically, the Netherlands, where the party of pro-Israel and anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders won the elections, said it would arrest Netanyahu.

Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp said, “The Netherlands implements the Rome Statute one hundred percent,” referring to the Hague-based court’s founding treaty

Veldkamp was to visit Israel next week, but Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar axed his trip over his comments supporting the ruling.

Other EU member states, Austria, Belgium, Ireland, Spain, and Slovenia, also said they would arrest the Israeli prime minister on their soil.

However, Israel’s ally Germany and EU members such as the Czech Republic, France, Italy, Slovakia, and non-EU nation Britain declined to confirm whether they would detain Netanyahu.

And with the opinions of other EU nations still uncertain, Hungary has become the EU’s only safe haven for Netanyahu.

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