(CLO) On November 22, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said he would invite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to visit Hungary, while ensuring that the International Criminal Court (ICC)'s arrest warrant for Mr. Netanyahu would "not be carried out".
Speaking on state radio, Mr Orban said the ICC arrest warrant was “wrong”, adding that the Israeli leader would be able to hold talks in Hungary “in full safety”. Mr Orban also accused the ICC of “interfering in the ongoing conflict for political purposes”.
"Today I will invite the Prime Minister of Israel, Mr. Netanyahu, to visit Hungary and in that invitation I assure him that if he comes, the judgment of the International Criminal Court will not be valid in Hungary and we will not comply with the content of the judgment," Mr. Orban said.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban (left) and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attend a press conference after their meeting in Jerusalem in 2019. Photo: AP
Earlier on November 21, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Prime Minister Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, as well as a Hamas leader, Ibrahim Al-Masri, on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity during the conflict in Gaza.
Since Mr Orban and his nationalist Fidesz party came to power in 2010, he and Mr Netanyahu have built a close political relationship. Mr Netanyahu visited Budapest in 2017.
The ICC decision was also strongly condemned by Israeli leaders and the White House, while EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the arrest warrants were not political and all EU member states should respect and implement the court's ruling.
Within the EU, Hungary and the Czech Republic are strong supporters of Israel, while countries such as Spain and Ireland have stressed their support for Palestine.
Ngoc Anh (according to Reuters, AP)
Source: https://www.congluan.vn/thu-tuong-israel-duoc-moi-den-hungary-sau-lenh-bat-deu-cua-toa-an-hinh-su-quoc-te-post322434.html
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