Israel’s prime minister may travel to very few nations without running the danger of being arrested. Therefore, it is all the more remarkable that Benjamin Netanyahu was given preferential treatment in Hungary, the only proud “illiberal democracy” in Europe.
Just after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Hungary’s suspected war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip in November, Prime Minister Viktor Orban extended an invitation to Mr. Netanyahu. And last week, Mr. Orban declared his nation’s departure from the court within hours of the Israeli president’s visit in Hungary.
According to commentators, there are a number of factors at play here that connect Mr. Orban, Mr. Netanyahu, and President Trump.
Bonding: The most aspirational and utopian, yet very flawed, form of an international legal system for upholding human rights is the International Criminal Court. The majority of lefties adore it. Trump, Netanyahu, and Orban all despise it.
Signaling: Mr. Orban is letting the world know that Hungary is free to do as it pleases and that, despite being a part of the EU, it is not bound by its rules. Hungary is open for business, he is telling Russia and China. And he’s assuring his domestic voters that Hungary comes first.
Testing boundaries: Nobody is sure what is permitted anymore at a time when international institutions are collapsing and a new order has not yet been established.
