As part of his official visit to Israel, PM Orbán planted a tree in the Grove of Nations.
In his address at the ceremony, the prime minister said that the friendship between the two countries was based on Hungary’s Jewish community, which is central Europe’s largest, as well as the large Hungarian diaspora living in Israel.
The prime minister added that it is also based on the legacy of Theodor Herzl -- a Hungarian and the founder of the zionist movement -- as well as the sharing of similar values and a common desire to preserve peace and security.
According to MTI, the prime minister said that every political leader was duty-bound to learn from the wrongs of the past.
“We will never forget that the Hungarian government, at that time, could not defend its Jewish citizens, but today the safety of all Jewish citizens in Hungary is guaranteed and anti-Semitism meets with zero tolerance,” he said.
The government is helping to rebuild Jewish religious and cultural life, renew synagogues, support schools, and organize cultural events, he added.
PM Orbán said the planting of a tree was significant and symbolized Hungarian-Israeli friendship.
The prime minister also met with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin. The Hungarian government has performed and will continue to perform all its duties towards the Jewish community in Hungary, the prime minister told Rivlin.
Hungary has the largest Jewish community in central Europe, which puts a special responsibility on the country. The government protects all its citizens, including the Jewish community, and has a policy of zero tolerance for anti-Semitism, PM Orbán said.
Rivlin said that Israel appreciates Hungary’s efforts to clamp down on anti-Semitism as well as its support for Israel at international forums.