21 h. ago As Orbán quits the ICC, other nations have a choice to make: do we back the rule of law or not? | Steve Crawshaw

There is a principle that even the most powerful leaders must be accountable. Increasingly, that is under threat, but it must be defendedIt was unsurprising that Benjamin Netanyahu praised Viktor Orbán’s “bold and principled” stand, in response to Hungary’s announcement yesterday that it will leave the international criminal court (ICC). More dismaying is that too few governments seem ready to stand up against impunity at a time when, because of Donald Trump, the very existence of the Hague court is under threat.Hungary’s leader described the ICC as “a political forum”; the Israeli prime minister, during his defiant visit to Budapest this week, complained of a “corrupt organisation”. That is all logical enough. Four months ago, the court confirmed an arrest warrant for Netanyahu for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. He could hardly be expected to praise his own indictment.Steve Crawshaw is the author of Prosecuting the Powerful: War Crimes and the Battle for Justice. H...

Politics

38 h. ago Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu dodges war crimes arrest in Hungary visit

Hungarian leader Viktor Orban quits International Criminal Court, refusing to allow arrest of Israeli leader wanted on war crimes accusations because he says it is an unfair 'political' tribunal

Events

49 h. ago Hungary to pull out of ‘political’ ICC as Netanyahu visits Budapest

Israeli PM, who is wanted by the court, hails Viktor Orbán’s ‘bold and principled’ decision to leave the ‘corrupt’ bodyHungary will leave the international criminal court because it has become “political”, the country’s prime minister, Viktor Orbán, said as he welcomed his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanhayu - the subject of an ICC arrest warrant - to Budapest for an official visit.Standing beside Netanyahu at the start of the four-day visit, Orbàn said on Thursday that Hungary was convinced the “otherwise very important court” had “diminished into a political forum”. Netanyahu hailed “a bold and principled” decision. Continue reading...

Politics

50 h. ago Hungary dramatically quits the International Criminal Court and vows not to arrest Netanyahu during his Budapest visit despite ICC's war crimes arrest warrant

Hungary will withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC) and refuse to arrest Benjamin Netanyahu despite the organisation issuing a warrant for the Israeli Prime Minister.

Events

56 h. ago Netanyahu to visit Hungary as Orbán vows to defy ICC arrest warrant

Israeli prime minister begins four-day trip after Hungarian counterpart says court ruling would ‘have no effect’Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to begin a four-day official visit to Hungary on Thursday, marking the first time the Israeli prime minister has stepped foot on European soil since the international criminal court issued an arrest warrant for him over allegations of war crimes in Gaza.Hours after the ICC announced the warrants in November, Hungary’s prime minister, Viktor Orbán, made it clear he would defy the court to host Netanyahu, telling reporters that he would “guarantee” the ICC’s ruling would “have no effect in Hungary”. Continue reading...

Events

56 h. ago Netanyahu visits Hungary as Orbán vows to defy ICC arrest warrant

Israeli prime minister begins four-day trip after Hungarian counterpart says court ruling would ‘have no effect’Benjamin Netanyahu has begun a four-day official visit to Hungary, marking the first time the Israeli prime minister has stepped foot on European soil since the international criminal court issued an arrest warrant for him over allegations of war crimes in Gaza.Hours after the ICC announced the warrants in November, Hungary’s prime minister, Viktor Orbán, made it clear he would defy the court to host Netanyahu, telling reporters that he would “guarantee” the ICC’s ruling would “have no effect in Hungary”. Continue reading...

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