Q: Isn’t it schizophrenic to work as Israel’s ambassador to Hungary? Israel, just like Hungary, is criticized by the European Union on its human rights record, so Israel could have fellow feelings with Hungary. By contrast, it is part of your job regularly to bring up the topic of anti-Semitism in Hungary.

A: You’re right. My position is partly schizophrenic indeed: I have to wear “two hats”. My first duty is to represent a sovereign country. I work hard to popularize the friendly relations between Israel and Hungary and to strengthen bilateral cultural, economic, technological and political relations. In addition – representing the world’s only Jewish state and being a Jew myself – I have to foster relations with Hungary’s Jewish community. Not that I would issue instructions for them. They are Hungarian citizens and I don’t have the right to interfere in their matters, but our relations have a natural basis: we have shared traditions, culture and religion…

Q: But you are not a believer, are you?

A: I’m a very good Jew in my own way. Ask the United Hungarian Jewish Community of Faith (EMIH) or the Federation of Jewish Communities in Hungary (MAZSIHISZ) – they think of me that way. So that’s my other hat. Thanks to my first hat, I can view with sympathy Hungary’s relationship to the European Union. Cordial and strong as the relations between the EU and Israel are, they include inconvenient surprises too.

Q: One of them was the boycott last year of products that originated from the occupied Palestinian territory. It was organized citing Israel’s violation of human rights. Mentioning EU sanctions against Hungary because of the state of democracy sounds familiar to Hungarian ears.

A: There are similarities in the situation of the two countries. However there is a significant difference. Hungary is a member of that elite club. We are not. When you are a member, you have rights and duties. If you not a member, you have greater room of maneuvre. Besides, I have nothing to say against justified criticism. However, one-sided criticism is unfortunate. If critics associate every issue – be it technology, commerce or tourism – with Israel’s relations to the Palestinians, that is not justified criticism but a mania.

Q: You don’t deny the Palestinians’ right to a state of their own, do you?

A: Obviously I recognize that right and so do the majority of Israelis and Prime Minister Netanyahu. Our vision is that there should be two states that co-exist peacefully.

Q: A few weeks ago, in a private conversation, your defense minister charged US Secretary of State John Kerry of being “messianic”. Moshe Ya’alon stated that the US settlement plan wasn’t worth the paper on which it was written. Are you sure that the official Israeli position is sincere?

A: I’m not in a position to comment on my defense minister’s words but let me mention that he has apologized for his words. The United States is Israel’s most important ally and that will not change. That is not a tactical consideration: mutual friendship is deep-rooted in the two societies. The Americans want Israel to live in security and we appreciate Secreatry Kerry’s endeavors to secure direct talks between us and the Palestinians. Minor squabbles do occur in the best of family but we can settle them behind closed doors.

Q: What is the obstacle in the way of peace – supposing you really want it?

A: The Palestinians, more than anyone else, should reformulate their vision of the future. To start with, they should recognize Israel’s right to exist.

Q: They would probably do so easier if Israel withdrew behind its pre-1967 frontiers.

A: Let us leave that question to the negotiating partners – if and when there are such talks. I didn’t speak of the frontiers. What I said was that we recognize the Palestinians’ right to statehood but the reverse does not apply – 65 years after the establishment of the State of Israel. Obviously I am not referring to all the Palestinians. Palestinians are good people. My criticism refers to their leaders. It is basically a psychological problem. We do not trust each other, we don’t believe that the other side really wants peace. There has been more and more hysteria-mongering in the Palestinian media and education.

Q: If you recognize the Palestinians’ right to statehood, you probably support the idea of granting autonomy for the Szeklers [ethnic Hungarians of Romania].

A: I’m not justified, and I don’t have the right, to take sides about an issue that affects Hungary and Romania, which are independent states.

Q: What a pity. Has the situation changed since last year when you referred to your relations to the Hungarian government as “very good”?

A: The situation has not changed but what happened in recent weeks jumped into the focus of those relations. I keenly monitor the developments. It’s certain that declaring 2014 a year of remembrance to the Holocaust was a bold and appropriate step in the right direction.

Q: That said, Holocaust expert Randolp L. Braham found fault even with that decision of the Hungarian government. The HUF 5 billion earmarked for the anniversary should be distributed among the poor. Why on earth is it a problem if the government spends on remembrance?

A: We should always listen to what Randolph L. Braham says – whether we agree with him or we don’t. In my view it is right to remember the annihiliation of half a million Jews by the Nazis and their Hungarian collaborators. I don’t have any doubts about the good intentions of the government and that it wishes to have processes move in the right direction.

Q: What is the right direction?

A: Facing up to the past. During the forty years of Communist dictatorship that couldn’t happen. Even Germany took its time before coming to terms with its past – it needed 25 years for that. That is about the time that has elapsed since the fall of Communism, which means the time has come for facing up the past in the post-Commun ist countries. It equally applies to Hungary, Slovakia, Romania, Ukraine and Poland. Israeli society is doing the same. At times it is inconvenient what we see but, if we admit our mistakes, that will make us stronger. Only truth can make us free and better – whether individually or country by country.

Q: You must have heard about the apology made by Hungary’s ambassador to the United Nations, Deputy Premier Tibor Navracsics and Viktor Orbán.

A: I certainly have. Everything is alright as far as statements are concerned.

Source: Heti Válasz

Translated by Budapest Telegraph