Orbán justifies welcoming Netanyahu and rejecting ICC by citing sovereignty and political concerns, challenging EU norms.
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Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán justified his recent political moves—welcoming Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and ceasing recognition of the International Criminal Court (ICC)—by stating that invited guests are not typically targeted, and there is no legal basis for action against them because he believes the ICC has become politicized and threatens Hungarian independence, noting that Americans and Turks do not adhere to it. These actions represent another step by Orbán toward undermining EU standards and values, following a previous move regarding Budapest’s Pride event. Unlike past incidents, there have been no strong protests from EU offices or embassies regarding Netanyahu’s visit, as some countries like Poland, France, and Germany previously indicated they would not restrict him because Israel is not subject to the ICC’s authority. Experts counter that while the ICC’s authority is limited, Orbán’s argument raises questions about how other states supporting or denying jurisdiction over crimes in Ukraine, the Caucasus, or the Mediterranean should be viewed, suggesting international law must apply universally for liberal democracies to avoid accusations of double standards by autocracies.
