Israeli President Herzog Visits Hungary Amid Shifting Stance on ICC Arrest Warrant

Israeli President Isaac Herzog is scheduled to visit Hungary on October 20th, marking his first trip to the country since a significant political shift. The visit comes at a time when Hungary's new leadership, under Prime Minister Péter Magyar, has altered its stance on the International Criminal Court's (ICC) arrest warrant issued against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Magyar's government has committed to respecting ICC arrest warrants, a departure from the previous administration led by Viktor Orbán.

During his one-day visit to Budapest, President Herzog will attend and speak at the international conference of the "Call of the People" initiative, which he established in 2023 to strengthen ties between Israel and global Jewish communities. He will also meet with leaders of Hungary's Jewish community. Herzog is slated to be received at the Sándor Palace, the official residence of the Hungarian President, and will hold a separate meeting with Prime Minister Magyar to discuss ongoing bilateral cooperation.

The visit occurs approximately six months after Magyar's election victory over Orbán. Magyar has expressed a desire to maintain close relations with Israel while also reversing key policies of his predecessor. Notably, his government canceled Orbán's move to withdraw Hungary from the ICC and affirmed its commitment to upholding the court's arrest warrants, including the one for Netanyahu. This change contrasts with Orbán's administration, which had previously blocked similar measures and utilized its EU position to shield Israel from critical decisions.

The situation surrounding Netanyahu's potential visit to Hungary became complicated earlier in the year. Following Magyar's election, Netanyahu was invited to Hungary for events commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Hungarian Uprising. However, Magyar clarified that the invitation would not grant Netanyahu immunity from arrest, emphasizing Hungary's obligation to the ICC. This clarification raised doubts about Netanyahu's attendance and led to speculation that Herzog might represent Israel instead.

In May, Magyar's government also withdrew its opposition to EU sanctions against settlers accused of violence in the West Bank, a move that the Orbán government had blocked. This shift signifies a loss of a key ally for Israel within European institutions. The current visit by President Herzog takes place just a week before Israeli elections and amid ongoing disagreements between Israel and EU institutions.