Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán extended an invitation on Friday to Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu to visit Hungary, offering assurances that he would not face arrest. Meanwhile, other European nations indicated they would detain Netanyahu if he entered their territories, following the issuance of an arrest warrant.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) announced arrest warrants on Thursday for Netanyahu, former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas leader Ibrahim Al-Masri. The charges include alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity stemming from the Gaza conflict.
These contrasting responses across Europe underscore the complex diplomatic and political implications of the ICC’s decision, which has been sharply criticized by both Israeli officials and the White House.
“For us Europeans, this warrant exposes a real dilemma between international law, which is our law, and our foreign policy, especially for those member states that are unconditionally backing Israel,” analysts at Eurointelligence wrote in a commentary.
Orbán dismissed the ICC’s actions, calling them a “brazen, cynical, and completely unacceptable decision.” He reiterated his strong support for Netanyahu, with whom he has cultivated a close relationship.
“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,” Orbán stated.
Although all EU member states are signatories to the ICC and are bound by its mandates, reactions from major EU countries were less definitive. Germany and France avoided committing to specific actions if Netanyahu visited, while the United Kingdom, which is not part of the EU but is an ICC member, also refrained from clarifying its position.
The ICC lacks its own enforcement mechanisms and relies on member states to implement its rulings, leaving its influence dependent on diplomatic and political will.
Countries such as the Netherlands, Finland, Ireland, Italy, and Spain expressed readiness to fulfill their ICC obligations. Cyprus, which maintains strong ties with Israel, acknowledged the warrants as binding, according to a government insider.
Germany, a staunch supporter of the ICC, stated it would not speculate on actions until Netanyahu formally planned a trip. “Germany is one of the biggest supporters of the ICC — this attitude is also the result of German history,” a government spokesperson said. “At the same time, it is a consequence of German history that we share unique relations and a great responsibility with Israel.”
France tempered its initial response to the warrants, which aligned with the ICC statutes, by characterizing the decision as a “formalization of an accusation” rather than a ruling. French officials noted that pressuring Netanyahu could hinder ongoing efforts to broker a ceasefire in Lebanon.
In the Netherlands, far-right leader Geert Wilders announced plans to visit his “friend” Netanyahu in Israel, despite the Dutch government’s commitment to enforce the ICC warrant if Netanyahu visited. While Wilders leads the country’s largest party, he does not hold a Cabinet position.
The Czech Republic, another staunch ally of Israel, appeared divided on the issue. While its foreign ministry pledged adherence to international legal obligations, Prime Minister Petr Fiala criticized the ICC’s move, calling it “unfortunate” and suggesting it undermined the court’s credibility.
{Matzav.com}