Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has concluded his two-day official visit to Israel.
Government insiders hailed the trip as a “tremendous success” and a “huge step” toward dispelling the myth that Hungary is an anti-Semitic nation.
During his visit, the prime minister met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem to discuss security, the fight against terrorism, border protection and anti-Semitism.
At a joint press conference with Netanyahu, PM Orbán said he and his Israeli counterpart agree that security is the number one issue today and that all nations have a right to their own security and a duty to protect their citizens.
The prime minister added that Europe today is suffering from migration and terrorism, and these problems should be combatted. He also touched on the issue of modern-day anti-Semitism, saying it was a concern in Europe.
“We’re living in a time when anti-Semitism is rising in western Europe but is on the decline in central Europe,” PM Orbán said.
The prime minister noted that Hungary still has a policy of zero tolerance for anti-Semitism. Hungary’s Jewish community is protected by the government, he stressed. “We’re proud that people who openly identify as Jewish can feel safe in Hungary,” he said.
PM Orbán said his government has “done a lot” to rebuild Jewish culture in Hungary, noting that the government has supported the renovation of synagogues and Jewish education.
Hungary always urges international organizations to apply a fair and balanced approach to Israel, PM Orbán said, adding that the two countries will continue to cooperate closely at international forums.
The prime minister said bilateral economic cooperation between the two nations was strong. He said there are 200 Israeli companies present in Hungary, mainly in the tech industry, employing some 5,000 people.