Red carpet for a war criminal accused: why is the ICC under fire?

There are not many countries that the Israeli Prime Minister can visit without risking any arrest. This makes the treatment of the red carpet that Benjamin Netanyahu received in Hungary – the only proud “illiberal democracy” in Europe – all the more remarkable.

Viktor Orban, the Prime Minister of Hungary, invited Mr. Netanyahu just after the International Criminal Court published an arrest warrant last November for the alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip. And in the hours following the arrival of the Israeli Prime Minister in Hungary last week, Orban announced the withdrawal of his court from the court.

There are several things here, according to analysts, which bind the affinities of Mr. Orban, Mr. Netanyahu and President Trump.

Connection: The International Criminal Court is the most ambitious and idealistic version – although deeply imperfect – of a global judicial system to enforce human rights. Most liberals love it. Mr. Orban, Mr. Netanyahu and Mr. Trump hate him.

Signaling: Mr. Orban tells the world that Hungary does what it wants: it can be a member of the European Union, but it is not limited by it. He said to China and Russia that Hungary is open to business. And he tells his voters at home that it is Hungary first.

Test the limits: At a time when global institutions collapse and that a new order has not yet emerged, no one knows what is authorized and what is prohibited.