Hungary and Israel strengthen ties at pro-Israel summit in Budapest
Hungary hosted the third annual International Pro-Israel Summit in Budapest on 28 October. Organised by the Center for Fundamental Rights, the event brought together high-profile speakers from Israel and Hungary. Topics included regional alliances, antisemitism, and responses to the 7 October Hamas attacks.
The summit opened with an address by Miklós Szanthó, Director General of the Center. He praised Hungary as 'the only country with common sense in the EU' and called it 'Israel’s only reliable ally in the EU'. Szanthó also highlighted the strength of the Jewish-American-Hungarian alliance, describing it as active and resilient.
Israel’s Minister of Education, Yoav Kisch, thanked Hungary for its support after the 7 October attacks. He claimed Israel had rebuilt itself from 'the ruins caused by terrorism' while facing accusations of racism and genocide from Western progressives. Kisch also commended Hungary’s strict stance against antisemitism and referred to Prime Minister Viktor Orbán as 'a true friend of Israel'. Hungarian Minister of Defence Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky spoke at the event, calling Hungary 'the country of perseverance, dignity, and faith'. He described Israel as both a close friend and a key strategic partner. Meanwhile, Yair Netanyahu, son of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, took part in a discussion, stating that 'Western Europe is in free fall' because of mass migration.
The summit reinforced ties between Hungary and Israel, with officials from both nations reaffirming their cooperation. Speakers emphasised shared values, opposition to antisemitism, and mutual support in the wake of recent conflicts. The event concluded with a focus on strengthening political and cultural bonds.
