Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu landed in Hungary early Thursday morning for a four-day visit after receiving an invitation from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban a day after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant against him.

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

Shortly after Netanyahu arrived and minutes before he met with the Hungarian Prime Minister, Orban’s office issued a statement announcing Hungary’s withdrawal from the ICC.

Orban had condemned the arrest warrant after it was issued, telling Hungarian media that the ICC decision was �fundamentally wrong� and an �outrageously brazen� political decision that would lead to �the discrediting of international law.”

He also wrote Netanyahu a letter, saying he was shocked by the ICC’s shameful decision and extending an invitation to visit.

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar responded to Hungary’s announcement by stating: “I commend Hungary’s important decision to withdraw from the ICC. Foreign Minister P�ter Szijj�rt� and I dealt with this matter extensively. 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.”

(YWN Israel Desk � Jerusalem)