Netanyahu, who is on an official visit in Hungary, said "this is a very moving day for me". He added that he had first visited the country as deputy foreign minister of Israel in 1991.

He said that after suffering the ravages of the second world war, Hungary was under a new type of occupation and"it took you many decades to liberate yourself and establish Hungary as an independent country". "So that offered some similarity to our travails which were on a different scale," he added.

"A third of our people were murdered in the second world war in the Holocaust; we had to overcome great odds to reestablish our sovereignty in our ancient homeland, and it was a question of time when these two histories would meet and begin the great alliance that has now developed," he said.

"You have in your leadership done remarkable things for Israel and the Jewish people," he added.

Netanyahu said Hungary supported and stood up for Israel "proudly and unstintingly" in the European Union and the United Nations while taking a "bold and principled step" regarding the ICC.

"Thank you very much, Viktor, this is important not only to us but to all democracies," the Israeli prime minister said.

Speaking on the ICC, he added that it was especially important to stand up to "this corrupt organisation", which threatened democracy. He said terrorism threatened democracy and the ICC directed its actions against Israel, rather than its "tormentors".

He said this was important for all of civilisation "as we fight this battle against barbarism". Hungary is the first state "that walks out of this corruption and this rottenness and I think it will be deeply appreciated not only in Israel but in many many countries around the world," he added.

Netanyahu also spoke about Hungary's "very bold stance" against anti-Semitism which had reared its head in Europe. "You do not allow it, you do not tolerate it, and you recognise that anti-Semitism today is masked by the guys of anti-Zionism," he said.

He added that, according to some people, being against the Jewish state did not make one anti-Semitic. 

"You can't say, well, I'm not against Hungarians, I just don't think there should be a Hungary. Without a Jewish state there is no Jewish people," he said.

He praised Hungary for treating the Jewish community in an exemplary manner, not only providing them with security but also the opportunity to live Jewish life in the best possible way.

"Hungary also takes care today of Israel's football teams ... and other sports, as well,"he said. "This is all a sign of a deep friendship, a deep alliance that has evolved," he added.
 

Netanyahu said Israel and Hungary were "fighting a similar battle" for the future of their common Judeo-Christian, Western civilisation.

He said this civilisation was currently under assault by radical Islam, spearheaded by Iran as a "pulsating engine". "We will smash the Iranian terror axis, which threatens not only us but Europe, [too]," Netanyahu said, adding that the Hungarian Prime Minister understood that this was "a common battle for our values, our interests and for our common security".

"We were attacked by Iran's proxies in a murderous campaign by Hamas terrorists who raped our women, beheaded our men, burnt our babies and took hostages," the prime minister said. "We are committed to bring back home all of them, including a hostage with Hungarian citizenship."

Netanyahu also said that many Israeli tourists liked visiting Hungary and many Israeli businesspeople investmented in the country, adding that cooperation was strong in technology and defence, and there were many areas for future cooperation.

Netanyahu: Israel, Hungary 'fighting a similar battle'

Israel and Hungary are "fighting a similar battle" for the future of their common Judeo-Christian, Western civilisation, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at a joint press conference with Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Budapest on Thursday.

Netanyahu said this civilisation was currently under assault by radical Islam, spearheaded by Iran as a "pulsating engine".

"We will smash the Iranian terror axis, which threatens not only us, but Europe," Netanyahu said, adding that the Hungarian Prime Minister understood that this was "a common battle for our values, our interests and for our common security".

Orban: Hungary enforces zero tolerance against anti-Semitism

Hungary enforces zero tolerance against anti-Semitism with every means possible and protects all of its citizens, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said after talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Budapest on Thursday.

At a joint press conference with Netanyahu, Orban noted that they last met eight years ago and he last visited Israel in 2021. He said the world had gone through "huge changes" since then, with global security facing "serious threats", as evidenced by the 2023 terrorist attack against Israel.

Hungary, Orban said, had made it clear that it stands by Israel’s sovereignty, its right to self-defence and the security of the Israeli people, noting that it has represented this position on the world political stage ever since.

Orban said Hungary in recent years had been "an island of freedom, the resolute guardian and standard-bearer of Judeo-Christian civilisation in Europe". Hungary, he noted, is home to Europe’s third largest Jewish community, adding he was certain that Hungary was the safest place in Europe for Jewish people today.

He said anti-Semitism in had reached "unprecedented levels" in western Europe over the past decade, adding that "Hamas flags have never been waved in Hungary and never will be."

"In this country ... there is zero tolerance for anti-Semitism, and that is something we enforce with every means possible," the prime minister said. "We protect all of our citizens and devote special attention to groups that are highly vulnerable, and the Jewish community is now highly vulnerable everywhere in the world."

President Sulyok meets Israel’s Netanyahu

President Tamas Sulyok met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the presidential Sandor Palace on Thursday.

At their meeting, Sulyok and Netanyahu reviewed the status of bilateral relations, future opportunities and current international challenges, the Sandor Palace said in a statement.

The two leaders were in agreement that they shared the same views on issues concerning security, national sovereignty and national identity.

Sulyok said he was convinced that a strong Israel was essential not just for the security of the Middle East but also for that of Europe, the protection of Europe’s Jewish community and the fight against anti-Semitism.

The president noted that Hungary condemns anti-Semitism and enforces zero tolerance against all forms of anti-Semitism. He underscored the importance of ensuring that Hungary’s Jewish community feel safe in the country, adding that Hungary condemned all forms of terrorism.

Netanyahu expressed his gratitude for Hungary’s support.

The Israeli prime minister’s official visit to Hungary comes after a visit by Israeli President Isaac Herzog in February.

Counter-terrorism unit coordinating security during Netanyahu visit

Hungary's counter-terrorism force TEK is coordinating personal security operations during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Budapest visit, TEK said on Thursday.

TEK "assesses all circumstances and information and makes preparations for and takes all necessary actions in continuous coordination with all parties," TEK's PR department said.

TEK added that the Hungarian police, disaster management authority and the ambulance service are involved in its operations.

The interior ministry said on its website that security operations were aimed at "preserving the life and physical integrity of Benjamin Netanyahu, protecting his locations and routes, as well as securing the official programmes attended and ensuring health services."

The ministry also said the operations were designed to cause the smallest possible inconvenience to local residents, and traffic restrictions would be in force for the shortest time.

Source: 
MTI - The Hungarian News Agency, founded in 1881.