Orbán and Netanyahu Discuss Bilateral Relations Amidst Controversy
Hungary's Exit from the ICC and Support for Israel Mark a Significant Meeting
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a meeting in Budapest on Thursday, followed by a brief press conference.
During the conference, Netanyahu expressed appreciation for Hungary's understanding of Israel's security concerns, stating that Orbán is a close friend.
The meeting occurred against the backdrop of Hungary's announcement that it would withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC), a decision officially conveyed by Gergely Gulyás, Orbán’s chief of staff.
This decision is significant as the ICC had issued an arrest warrant last November for Netanyahu on suspicion of war crimes, which Orbán had publicly criticized.
Netanyahu described Hungary’s exit from the ICC as a brave stance against a court he labeled as corrupt and politically motivated, asserting that Hungary consistently defends Israel in European Union and United Nations discussions.
He emphasized the importance of keeping ties strong between the two countries, noting that the Israeli national football team is currently playing in Hungary amidst the ongoing regional conflict.
Orbán addressed concerns regarding antisemitism and illegal immigration during the press conference, asserting that the latter brings antisemitism into Europe.
He claimed that Hungary maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards antisemitism, stating that the Hungarian Jewish community feels the safest in Europe, emphasizing its size as one of the largest in the continent.
Netanyahu reiterated that Israel's security is paramount and thanked Orbán for Hungary's steadfast support.
He mentioned ongoing collaborations between Hungarian and Israeli businesses, highlighting 150 Israeli firms operating in Hungary, particularly in sectors such as pharmaceuticals and technology.
Orbán stated that he hopes for continued military cooperation, given previous arms purchases from Israel.
Throughout the event, Orbán maintained that Hungary has never tolerated Hamas influences, asserting that no Hamas flags have flown in the country, in stark contrast to increasing antisemitic incidents reported in Western Europe.
The press conference was marred by its brevity, concluding without a Q&A session, as Netanyahu's time in Hungary continues through the weekend.
The meeting symbolizes growing cooperation amid regional tensions and reflects Hungary’s foreign policy alignment with Israel, particularly as geopolitical dynamics change in Europe.
During the conference, Netanyahu expressed appreciation for Hungary's understanding of Israel's security concerns, stating that Orbán is a close friend.
The meeting occurred against the backdrop of Hungary's announcement that it would withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC), a decision officially conveyed by Gergely Gulyás, Orbán’s chief of staff.
This decision is significant as the ICC had issued an arrest warrant last November for Netanyahu on suspicion of war crimes, which Orbán had publicly criticized.
Netanyahu described Hungary’s exit from the ICC as a brave stance against a court he labeled as corrupt and politically motivated, asserting that Hungary consistently defends Israel in European Union and United Nations discussions.
He emphasized the importance of keeping ties strong between the two countries, noting that the Israeli national football team is currently playing in Hungary amidst the ongoing regional conflict.
Orbán addressed concerns regarding antisemitism and illegal immigration during the press conference, asserting that the latter brings antisemitism into Europe.
He claimed that Hungary maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards antisemitism, stating that the Hungarian Jewish community feels the safest in Europe, emphasizing its size as one of the largest in the continent.
Netanyahu reiterated that Israel's security is paramount and thanked Orbán for Hungary's steadfast support.
He mentioned ongoing collaborations between Hungarian and Israeli businesses, highlighting 150 Israeli firms operating in Hungary, particularly in sectors such as pharmaceuticals and technology.
Orbán stated that he hopes for continued military cooperation, given previous arms purchases from Israel.
Throughout the event, Orbán maintained that Hungary has never tolerated Hamas influences, asserting that no Hamas flags have flown in the country, in stark contrast to increasing antisemitic incidents reported in Western Europe.
The press conference was marred by its brevity, concluding without a Q&A session, as Netanyahu's time in Hungary continues through the weekend.
The meeting symbolizes growing cooperation amid regional tensions and reflects Hungary’s foreign policy alignment with Israel, particularly as geopolitical dynamics change in Europe.
AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
