Netanyahu holds ‘warm’ conversation with Hungary’s newly elected Magyar, who invites him to visit

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu just concluded a “warm introductory conversation” with Hungarian prime minister-elect Peter Magyar, the Prime Minister’s Office says in a statement, three days after Magyar ousted Netanyahu’s longtime ally Viktor Orban.

Magyar told Netanyahu that “he intends to continue the close relations between Hungary and Israel,” and invited the premier to attend a ceremony marking 70 years since the Hungarian Uprising, according to the statement.

Magyar’s invitation indicates that he is open to hosting Netanyahu in Hungary, despite his pledge on Monday to return Budapest to being a member of the International Criminal Court, which issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu on allegations of war crimes in Gaza. Orban quit the body last year in support of Netanyahu, who visited Budapest shortly after.

Netanyahu “welcomed [Magyar’s] remarks and responded positively,” inviting him to a government-to-government meeting in Jerusalem.

Netanyahu “expressed his confidence that the warm relations maintained with [Orban] will continue during [Magyar’s] tenure,” the PMO continues, adding that the two agreed that both countries’ foreign ministers will meet soon “to discuss the continuation of the close ties between Israel and Hungary.”

President Isaac Herzog and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar congratulated Magyar on his electoral victory earlier in the week.