https://arab.news/mp53r
- The government announced the move after Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in Hungary in defiance of an ICC arrest warrant
Hungary鈥檚 parliament approved a bill on Tuesday that will start the country鈥檚 year-long withdrawal process from the International Criminal Court, which Prime Minister Viktor Orban鈥檚 government said has become 鈥減olitical.鈥�
Orban鈥檚 government announced the move on April 3, shortly after Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in Hungary for a state visit in a rare trip abroad in defiance of an ICC arrest warrant. The ICC鈥檚 Presidency of the Assembly of State Parties expressed concern at the move.
The International Criminal Court was set up more than two decades ago to prosecute those accused of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.
Orban last month said the ICC was 鈥渘o longer an impartial court, a rule-of-law court, but rather a political court.鈥�
Hungary has rejected the idea of arresting the Israeli prime minister and has called the warrant 鈥渂razen.鈥�
Hungary is a founding member of the ICC and ratified its founding document in 2001. However, the law has not been promulgated.
The bill to withdraw from the ICC passed on Tuesday with 134 members voting in favor and 37 against.
鈥淗ungary firmly rejects the use of international organizations 鈥� in particular criminal courts 鈥� as instruments of political influence,鈥� the bill, submitted by Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjen, said on parliament鈥檚 website.
Netanyahu called Hungary鈥檚 decision to leave the ICC a 鈥渂old and principled decision.鈥�
The Israeli prime minister faces an ICC arrest warrant over allegations of war crimes in Gaza as Israel expands its military operation in the Palestinian enclave. Netanyahu has denied the allegations.
A country鈥檚 withdrawal from the ICC comes into effect one year after the United Nations Secretary-General receives a written notification of the decision.