Hungary, which refuses to support a European Union declaration calling for a ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinians, says "an intelligent, balanced and calm approach is needed instead of political pamphlets and ideologically biased statements." 

Menczer: Israel has right to defend itself

Israel is under attack by a terrorist organisation, so it has the right to defend itself, Tamás Menczer, the state secretary for communications and international relations, said after the EU called for a ceasefire.

Josep Borrell, the EU’s foreign policy chief on Tuesday called for a ceasefire between Israelis and Palestinians and for humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.

In a videoconference, EU foreign ministers set out a common statement supported by 26 of the 27 member states, with Hungary refusing to back it. Menczer told MTI that Hungary resisted endorsing the EU statement because it was “excessively one-sided and failed to reflect the real situation”.

“We reject any position that puts responsibility on Israel for the situation … just as we reject any position that regards Israel and the Hamas terrorist group as equals, or which regards the latter as legitimate,” Menczer said.

“In the current situation it must be made clear that the various Palestinian terrorists groups must immediately stop their rocket attacks,” he said.


MTI Photo: Zoltán Máthé