JERUSALEM—Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who paid his first visit to Israel this week, said that he is willing to work together with the Jewish State in the struggle against antisemitism, which he said includes harsh statements against Israel.
“I want to tell you that in Hungary there is no tolerance for antisemitism, and all Jews in Hungary are protected by the government,” he said before meting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem. “We are proud that in Hungary those who declare themselves Jews and live a Jewish lifestyle can feel secure.”
He said his government has done a great deal to build Jewish culture in the country, including refurbishing synagogues, preserving cemeteries and investing in education.
He also lauded the “excellent” relations between Israel and Hungary. He said that that he and Netanyahu see the challenges facing the world in similar ways. “There is full agreement between us that security is the most important thing, and that each nation has the right to defend its citizens, and our obligation is to give our citizens a sense of security.”
In his remarks during a joint press conference, Netanyahu thanked Orban for defending Israel. ‘’You have stood up for Israel time and time again in international forums. It is deeply appreciated and it is important, and important goal of Israeli foreign policy to change not only our bilateral relations with so many countries and indeed our relations are flourishing as never before.’’
‘’It is also to change the way Israel is treated in international forums and on this Hungary has led the charge many, many times and I thank you for it,’’ the Israeli premier declared.
As a member of the European Union, Hungary has consistently abstained rather than vote against Israel in the United Narions. It abstained in December in the UN General Assembly vote condemning the US for moving its embassy to Jerusalem, in May when the UN Human Rights Commission voted to establish an investigative committee into the violence along the Gaza border and in June when the UN General Assembly condemned the Gaza violence and passed a resolution calling for protection of the Palestinian civilian population.
Hungary was also instrumental in thwarting an EU resolution in December that would have condemned the US for its decision to move its embassy to Jerusalem.
And this month, Hungary sponsored a statement in the UNHRC condemning antisemitism.
During his visit, Orban toured the Yad Vashem Museum and “received a comprehensive explanation of the Holocaust, as well as specific references to the destruction of Hungarian Jewry.’’
“This included details regarding the cooperation of Hungarian authorities with Nazi Germany under the leadership of Miklós Horthy and his successor,” Yad Vashem said.