Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu applauded Hungary for its "bold and principled" decision to leave the International Criminal Court as he visited Budapest on Thursday, a rare trip abroad in defiance of an ICC arrest warrant.

Hungary will withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC), its government said Wednesday, as the country’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban welcomed Israeli Prime Minister and ICC fugitive Benjamin Netanyahu to Budapest.

Hungary announced it would leave the International Criminal Court during a visit by Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu, who faces an ICC arrest warrant.

The announcement came hours after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel arrived in the country for a visit despite facing an international arrest warrant.

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.

Just as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who faces an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC), arrived in Budapest on Thursday, Hungary said it plans to withdraw from the ICC.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday he spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, adding that he may visit the United States next week.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in Hungary's capital early Thursday 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 Netanyahu has made since the International Criminal Court issued the warrant against him in November.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in Hungary early on Thursday, Israeli media reported. This is Netanyahu's first trip to Europe since the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant against him.