Hungary today safest place for Jewish communities in Europe, says FM Szijjártó
Hungary is one of the safest places in Europe today, thanks to the Hungarian government’s determined defence against illegal migration, “even if it has to pay a one million euro daily fine to Brussels for it,” Péter Szijjártó, the minister of foreign affairs and trade, said in Jerusalem on Wednesday.
Hungary today safest place for Jewish communities in Europe, says FM Szijjártó
Speaking at a ministerial-level panel discussion at the International Conference on Combatting Antisemitism, Szijjártó said modern-age anti-Semitism was especially prevalent in western Europe, mainly due to mass illegal migration. “We in Hungary have a zero-tolerance policy against anti-Semitism. Hungary is one of the safest places in Europe today, in general as well as specifically for Jewish communities,” he said. Hungary also has the largest Jewish community in central Europe, he added.
“Hungary has no migrants, we don’t allow illegal migrants into the country… No matter the pressure from Brussels, we will keep Hungary one of the safest countries in Europe,” he added.
“Demonstrations glorifying terrorist organisations are unimaginable and prohibited in Hungary. There is no need for armed security guards at Jewish events in Hungary…” Szijjártó said.
Szijjártó said the world was facing “enormous security challenges, one of them being constantly growing terrorism.” It is a duty of the international community to ensure that “horrible things like those that took place in Israel on October 7, 2023, will never happen again.”
Self-defence, ICC
He condemned “certain [players] in international politics fundamentally questioning Israel’s right to self-defence, trying to relativise the most horrific terror attack in world history.”
World politics was plagued by an anti-Israel stance, and “unbalanced, biased statements against the Jewish state” were regularly voiced in international organisations, he said.
Szijjártó pointed to the International Criminal Court as an example, which he said had made “a clearly politically motivated decision” when it issued an arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The ICC “has become a political organisation and has lost all seriousness,” so Hungary decided to withdraw from it, Szijjártó said.
“We are proud to be a strategic ally and friend of Israel. Israel can always count on Hungary when it comes to combatting anti-Semitism, or anti-Israel sentiments in international politics,” Szijjártó said.
Israel Hungary’s ‘friend, strategic ally’
Israel is Hungary’s friend and strategic ally, Szijjártó said in Jerusalem on Wednesday, adding that the Jewish state could continue to rely on Hungary in the international arena.
“We are aware that central Europe’s security is closely linked to security in the Middle East, therefore we have a vested interest in stability in that region,” Szijjártó said during talks with Gideon Saar, his Israeli counterpart, according to a ministry statement.
Referring to an increasing threat of terrorism worldwide, Szijjártó expressed Hungary’s firm support for the fight against terrorism, saying “we most firmly condemn Hamas, and demand that its hostages be released.” He also regretted that a Hungarian national was still among the hostages held by Hamas.
“We hope the international community will increase its pressure on Hamas to release all the hostages,” he said.
Close ties
Meanwhile, Szijjártó said the Hungarian government “firmly rejected” international efforts against Israel such as the suspension of the European Union-Israel Association Council and sanctions against Israeli nationals.
The minister welcomed the development of bilateral economic ties, with special regard to the areas of IT, the defence industry, medical technology and food production.
Concerning talks with Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana earlier in the day, Szijjártó said they had agreed that “the EU’s fine imposed on Hungary for not allowing illegal migrants to enter is a good investment in Hungary’s future and security.”
“There are some issues on which you cannot compromise and in some cases not even a fine will deter us; Hungary’s security, calm, and identity must be preserved, and it can only be accomplished if we do not let illegal migrants in,” Szijjártó said.
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