Netanyahu and Orban defy arrest warrant
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will travel to Hungary on Wednesday to meet his Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orban, his office announced on Sunday, informs EFE.
« Wednesday, April 2, 2025, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will visit Hungary, where, among others, he will meet with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, » the Israeli Prime Minister’s office said in a short statement.
The document published by the Israeli Prime Minister’s office states that Netanyahu will leave Israel on Wednesday afternoon and will return to the country on Sunday morning.
The announcement comes shortly after Israel hosted in Jerusalem a controversial international conference against anti -Semitism, attended by many far right European representatives, including Kinga Gal, MEP from Fidesz, Orban’s party.
Viktor Orban announced at the end of November 2024 that he will invite the Israeli prime minister in Hungary, challenging the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (CPI) on behalf of Netanyahu, suspected of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza strip.
‘There is no alternative but to oppose this decision. Even today I will invite the Israeli Prime Minister to visit Hungary, « said the Hungarian prime minister, saying that the arrest warrant will not take effect in his country.
The two leaders, who have spent decades in the leadership of their countries, have been maintaining a good relationship, with gestures such as opening a Hungarian commercial office with diplomatic status in Jerusalem, symbolic event given the disputed status of the Palestinian population.
Orban lamented Netanyahu’s electoral defeat, calling him ‘good friend’ in a 2021 interview with American Fox network. A year later, he celebrated Netanyahu’s return to power: ‘Hard times require strong leaders. Welcome! ”, Orban wrote then on his social networks.
