Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
A statement issued by the Green Party group in the European Parliament said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will travel to Hungary tomorrow despite the International Criminal Court's arrest warrant against him, after receiving assurances from Prime Minister Viktor Orbán that he will protect him. The European Green Party calls for Prime Minister Netanyahu's arrest and trial at the International Criminal Court in The Hague.
In the statement, a copy of which we received, the co-chair of the European Green Party, Ciaran Cough, said: "It is the duty of the European Union and national governments to uphold international law and ensure accountability for war crimes and human rights violations. By ignoring the ICC arrest warrant for Prime Minister Netanyahu, Viktor Orbán is demonstrating the same disregard for the rule of law on the international stage that he has repeatedly demonstrated in Hungary. It is long overdue for member states to proceed with Article 7 to restore fundamental rights, the rule of law, and democracy in Hungary." Voula Tsitsi, co-chair of the European Green Party, added: "Orbán is violating EU treaties and commitments. His ties to Russia, his recent ban on the Budapest Pride march, his continued obstruction of EU support for Ukraine, his use of his veto power, and his blackmail of him are further evidence of his loyalty to Trump and Putin rather than to the EU. The European Commission and the European Council can no longer allow a single leader to hold the EU hostage. That is why we, the European Greens, consistently call for the abolition of national vetoes on foreign policy matters. Ignoring the ICC arrest warrant against Netanyahu means ignoring the reasons for its issuance, which is unacceptable."
"It is deeply disturbing to see Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis cozying up to Prime Minister Netanyahu in Jerusalem, while the latter continues to unleash killing and destruction in the occupied Palestinian territories. European leaders should hold Netanyahu to account and seek to broker a just peace in Gaza, instead of cajoling him and his extremist government." On March 6, Orbán vetoed the outcome of the European summit on Ukraine, forcing the remaining 26 leaders to adopt a separate statement. He could also obstruct European support for Ukraine, as the EU's economic sanctions on Russia must be renewed unanimously in July, and his approval would be necessary for Europe to seize frozen Russian assets.