Netanyahu in Hungary despite arrest warrant
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is visiting Europe for the first time since the start of the war in the Gaza Strip. He arrived today in Budapest, where he will be received by Viktor Orbán - despite the fact that Hungary, as a member state of the International Criminal Court (ICC), is obliged to arrest Netanyahu under an international arrest warrant. The Hungarian government has announced its intention to leave the ICC instead.
Orbán doesn't care about international law
Budapest is rolling out the red carpet for Netanyahu without any reservations, Pravda fumes:
“The Hungarian government's position has been clear from the outset: no criticism of Israel's impunity, no compliance with the ICC's arrest warrant. Although Hungary signed the Rome Statute establishing the ICC in 2002 and ratified it by parliamentary decision it was never brought into alignment with the Hungarian legal system. According to the Hungarian constitution, leaders of other countries enjoy immunity even in cases where international law is supposed to take precedence.”
Friedrich Merz would like to follow suit
Hungary is not alone in Europe with its stance towards Netanyahu, hvg notes:
“A similar position was taken by [designated] German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who was one of the first to call Benjamin Netanyahu after his election victory and invite him to Germany. The German side explained that it was ignoring the decision of the International Criminal Court because Israel is not a member of the organisation and therefore enjoys immunity in relation to its proceedings. France, Poland and Romania, among others, took a similar position. However, this calls into question the effectiveness of the ICC and its authority to a considerable extent.”
Europe must stick to its guns
The Frankfurter Rundschau hopes that other European leaders won't be tempted to follow the same path:
“Europe should remain unequivocal and avoid fueling accusations of double standards. Above all, it should leave the dismantling of international law to those - like Russian autocrat Vladimir Putin, US President Donald Trump and other right-wing populists and extremists - who have espoused the cause. This is not contradictory to European states continuing to support Israel in its defensive struggle against Hamas. Showing solidarity with the people of Israel and campaigning for the state's right to exist does not mean refraining from criticising the government's actions, some of which are extreme right-wing.”
Promoting Trump's resettlement plan?
Hungary will make many enemies if it decides to support Trump's Gaza plan, warns Magyar Hang:
“According to the Times of Israel, Netanyahu is coming to Orbán to convince him of Hungary's support for Trump's Gaza plan. ... Let's slowly get used to the idea that Donald Trump's and Netanyahu's great friend Viktor Orbán might actually support the displacement of two million people from their homes, the demolition of their houses and the construction of casinos and hotels in their place under the banner of 'Mediterranean holiday resorts'. In so doing, the government would turn all Palestinians and the Islamist groups that sympathise with them into our enemies for decades to come. Because Hungary is their top priority, right?”