Hungarian PM Convenes with Shluchim Ahead of Netanyahu Visit

Ahead of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s meeting with Hungarian leader Viktor Orban, local shluchim were unexpectedly called to the Prime Minister’s office where they were informed that Hungary would withdraw from the ICC in support of Israel. At his arrival, Netanyahu was welcomed with a full military parade.

By Anash.org Reporter

Earlier today, the heads of Hungary’s Jewish communities and shluchim were unexpectedly summoned to an urgent meeting in Budapest at the office of Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

With a Jewish population estimated at 45,000—ranking 12th globally—Chabad of Hungary plays a central role in Jewish life across the country. Recognizing this, the Prime Minister’s office invited the shluchim and community leaders to be present for a groundbreaking announcement, which came just ahead of Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Hungary officially declared its decision to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC).

On November 21, 2024, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. The move was widely condemned as a deeply politicized and unjustified action, lacking solid legal grounding, and seen as a blatant overreach of authority aimed at unfairly targeting Israel.

Prime Minister Netanyahu arrived in Hungary early Thursday morning for a four-day visit, following an invitation from Orban just one day after the ICC’s decision.

Hungarian Defense Minister Kristof Szalay-Bobrovniczky welcomed Netanyahu and his wife at the airport with a full military honor guard.

Shortly after his arrival, and moments before his meeting with Orban, the Hungarian government released a statement announcing its official withdrawal from the ICC.

Orban harshly criticized the arrest warrants, calling them “fundamentally wrong” and an “outrageously brazen” political move that would discredit international law. He also wrote a personal letter to Netanyahu, expressing his shock at the ICC’s decision and extending an invitation to visit Hungary in solidarity.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar praised Hungary’s move, stating: “I commend Hungary’s important decision to withdraw from the ICC. Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó and I have extensively dealt with this matter. The so-called ‘International Criminal Court’ lost its moral authority after trampling the fundamental principles of international law in its zest for harming Israel’s right to self-defense. Thank you, Prime Minister Viktor Orban, and thank you, Hungary, for your clear and strong moral stance alongside Israel and the principles of justice and sovereignty.”