Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar was in Hungary on Monday, September 8th, meeting with high-ranking Hungarian officials, including his counterpart Péter Szijjártó. Following their talks, the two held a joint press conference where Sa’ar praised Hungary for its firm stance against terrorism and Islamism.
At the press conference Gideon Sa’ar raised an important point about alliances being redrawn in Europe.
We are in a war against radical Islamist terrorism. Europe and the international community, every country must now make a clear choice: Are they on Israel’s side? Or are they on the side of the Jihadists?
“We know Hungary is on our side,” said the Israeli politician, stressing that Hungary’s actions have been unequivocal in its continued support of Israel in its war against Hamas.
FM Sa’ar highlighted the deadly attack that happened in the early hours of Monay in Jerusalem during his remarks. “Two Palestinian terrorists murdered Jews on buses at the Ramot Junction in … Jerusalem. So far, six Israelis have been killed. There are many, many injured, including a pregnant woman, we pray for them.”
The attack has since been denounced by PM Netanyahu as well, who vowed to retaliate for the lives lost and not let those responsible go unpunished.
Budapest has been a stalwart ally of Israel since the election of the second Orbán government in 2010. Hungary always voted against UN resolutions sanctioning Israel for its defensive war, as opposed to other NATO allies and European powers. While many countries in Western Europe, led by the liberal Left, are moving towards recognizing the Palestinian state and backstabbing Israel, Hungary remained one of the few standing up for Jerusalem.
Hungary also refused to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahresuu back in April during his visit to Hungary. An arrest warrant has been issued against Netanyahu by the International Criminal Court (ICC), an organization that Budapest was part of at the time. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, however, questioned the court’s legitimacy, calling it a “politically motivated” organization. The Israeli PM was welcomed to Budapest, with many conservative leaders across Europe praising Orbán for his bravery to stand up to Brussels’ criticism and resist ICC pressure. Hungary officially announced its withdrawal from the ICC on May 20th.
By contrast, as Israel fights an existential war in Gaza, the leaders of France and the UK recently announced they would recognize a ‘Palestinian state,’ a move that practically rewards Hamas for the October 7th pogrom.
