Hungary will withdraw from the International Criminal Court, the body that issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant last year. The announcement preceded Netanyahu’s arrival in Budapest for a state visit,

By Anita Komuves and Maayan Lubell BUDAPEST (Reuters) -Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu applauded Hungary for its "bold and principled" decision to leave the International Criminal Court as he visited Budapest on Thursday,

Hungary said Thursday it will begin the procedure of withdrawing from the world’s only permanent global tribunal for war crimes and genocide. “Hungary will withdraw from the International Criminal Court,

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban sent an invitation to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last November, the day after the ICC issued an arrest warrant for him over alleged war crimes in Gaza.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in Hungary’s capital to red carpet treatment despite a warrant for his arrest issued by the world’s top war crimes court.It was only the second foreign trip Mr Netanyahu has made since the International Criminal Court issued the warrant against him in November.

Once upon a time, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu strode the world with great confidence. His message for audiences back home, after another successful trip to Africa or Asia, would focus on how his hosts wanted Israel’s technology and admired its security.

A military honor guard receives Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as he meets his Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orban at the Buda Castle.Mounted troops draped in green, gold, and red hold Hungarian and Israeli flags as they ride in on brown and white horses.

Hungary has decided to withdraw from the International Criminal Court. The procedure will begin on Thursday, as announced by the head of the prime minister's office, Gergely Gulyas. The decision coincided with the visit of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Budapest.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, an ally and friend of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, flew to Budapest on Thursday. Hungary had long announced that it would not arrest Netanyahu, who is being pursued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).