Hungary’s new Prime Minister Peter Magyar said Monday his government will rejoin the International Criminal Court and take a more case-by-case approach to European Union decisions on Israel, signaling a shift in foreign policy after 16 years of rule by Viktor Orbán.
Magyar, who won a sweeping election victory and is set to replace Orbán, said Hungary would reapply to the ICC after his predecessor withdrew the country in response to the court’s arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
He stressed, however, that Hungary would maintain what he called a “special relationship” with Israel and pursue pragmatic ties rather than ideological alignment.
“There are special relations between Hungary and Israel, and many Hungarian citizens live in Israel,” Magyar said at his first post-election news conference. “Our relations will be pragmatic, and Israel is an important economic partner.”
Magyar’s victory marks one of the most significant political shifts in Europe in recent years, ending Orbán’s long tenure that had turned Hungary into one of Israel’s most reliable supporters within the European Union.
Under Orbán, Hungary frequently used its EU veto power to block or dilute critical EU statements and measures targeting Israel. Magyar suggested that era of automatic alignment is likely over.
2 View gallery
Budapest, Hungary — celebrations after Peter Magyar’s victory in the presidential election
(Photo: Denes Erdos/ AP)
“We will examine each decision individually, according to our interests,” he said when asked about future EU votes involving Israel.
While Magyar did not signal hostility toward Israel, his comments suggest a more cautious approach that could reduce Budapest’s willingness to shield Jerusalem in Brussels.
Diplomatic analysts in Israel said the change could have practical consequences, particularly in EU forums where Hungary previously acted as a key ally.
“Israel is not losing a friend, but it is losing a consistent protector inside the EU system,” said one former Israeli ambassador familiar with Hungary policy. “The new government will be more transactional.”
Magyar also confirmed that Hungary will proceed with steps to rejoin the ICC, reversing Orbán’s decision to withdraw. The move was originally taken after the court issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu over alleged war crimes, a decision Israel strongly rejects.
Although Magyar said the procedural process of withdrawal cannot be immediately stopped, he said Hungary will submit an application to rejoin.
His remarks come at a sensitive moment for Israel’s diplomatic standing in Europe, where divisions have widened over the war in Gaza and broader regional tensions.
Despite the policy shift, Magyar emphasized that Hungary does not intend to break ties with Israel.
“Israel is a strong economic partner of Hungary,” he said, adding that bilateral relations would continue on a practical basis.
Magyar also indicated that Hungary’s future positions in EU foreign policy discussions will be guided by national interest rather than automatic bloc voting, including on Middle East-related resolutions.
That stance marks a departure from Orbán’s approach, under which Hungary often aligned closely with Israel and the United States while clashing with EU partners over sanctions on Russia, migration policy and Israel-related statements.
Orbán, who had cultivated close ties with Netanyahu, had also refused to enforce ICC warrants against the Israeli leader and hosted him in Budapest in a high-profile visit.
Magyar did not directly address that visit but said Hungary’s foreign policy would be “balanced and pragmatic,” with stronger alignment to EU institutions.
He also said Hungary would seek to restore frozen European Union funding worth approximately €20 billion, which had been withheld due to disputes between Brussels and the previous government.
Analysts say that the push to repair relations with the EU may limit Hungary’s willingness to take independent positions on contentious foreign policy issues, including Israel.
Israel’s diplomatic community is watching the transition closely. Former ambassador Jacob Keidar said Hungary’s deeper integration into EU structures could reduce its ability to support Israel in key votes.
“The closer you are to Brussels, the less room you have to diverge,” he said. “It will inevitably affect how Hungary acts on Israel-related issues.”
At the same time, Israeli officials note that Magyar has not indicated any intention to adopt a hostile stance toward Israel, instead framing his approach as pragmatic neutrality.
For now, Hungary appears set to move from one of Israel’s strongest EU allies under Orbán to a more conventional European partner under Magyar — supportive in tone, but less predictable in practice.