Hungary’s PM-elect defies ICC with invitation to Netanyahu

After Viktor Orbán defeated in landslide election, Hungary’s premier-elect signals incoming government will maintain Budapest’s support for Israel by inviting Prime Minister Netanyahu.

By World Israel News Staff

Hungary’s new prime minister-elect extended an invitation to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday, defying the International Criminal Court and signaling that the new government in Budapest will continue incumbent Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s pro-Israel policies.

On Sunday, Hungarians voted to replace Orbán in a landslide election, ousting the 62-year-old right-wing premier who has governed the country since 2010, following a four-year stint in the 1990s and early 2000s.

Orbán is a staunch supporter of Israel and an ally of Netanyahu, and his defeat raised concerns in Israel that the election could threaten Jerusalem’s strong ties with Budapest.

In particular, the election of Péter Magyar, head of the centrist and pro-European Union Tisza party, led to speculation that Hungary would come into compliance with the ICC’s November 2024 arrest warrant for Netanyahu.

Following the issuance of the warrant, Orbán announced that Hungary would not honor the warrant, and invited Netanyahu for a state visit.

However, on Wednesday, Magyar extended an invitation to Netanyahu for an upcoming ceremony commemorating the 70th anniversary of the 1956 Hungarian Uprising, Netanyahu’s office said.

Netanyahu welcomed the remarks, accepted the invitation, and invited Prime Minister-elect Magyar to a government-to-government meeting in Jerusalem.

Netanyahu said he was confident that the warm ties Israel built with outgoing Prime Minister Viktor Orbán would continue under Magyar’s leadership.

The two leaders also agreed that their foreign ministers would meet soon to discuss how to maintain and deepen the close relationship between Israel and Hungary.

Channel 12‘s Amit Segal said that the invitation was intended to calm concerns in Israel regarding the repercussions of Sunday’s election on ties between the two countries.

“Netanyahu’s invitation to Hungary means one thing: even after Orbán, the country will not honor the international arrest warrant against Israel’s prime minister,” Segal said.