In the changing global order, the need to build a stronger alliance between Israel and Central European countries and to combat antisemitism were the key points of the latest conference at the Danube Institute.
The minister answered the question: what is the right strategy for Hungary in the constantly changing global political environment?
In 2023, the small Israeli community of Nir Oz, located near the Gaza border, became the scene of one of the deadliest attacks in Israel’s recent history.
‘Christmas markets were more than commercial centres; they granted place for charitable acts, such as donations for nurseries and children’s shelters.’
According to Yossi Dagan, ignorance poses an even greater danger to Israel than antisemitism.
‘But the fact remains: in Europe, almost every terrorist attack against Jews has been carried out by a Muslim perpetrator.’
‘Omri was freed from Hamas captivity along with 18 other living hostages on 13 October. Since then, Omri had been hospitalized at Ichilov Hospital, where he met his daughters for the first time since his return.’
‘The crisis has made Hungary’s relationship with Israel stronger than ever before.’
Relations between Hungary and the United Arab Emirates are set to deepen as recent high-level meetings signal a new phase of strategic cooperation. With a focus on sectors like energy, digital infrastructure, space, and defence, both nations aim to expand economic ties and strengthen their partnership within the EU framework.
‘Hungary is on Israel’s side,’ fighting against Islamist terrorism and hate propaganda against Jewish people.
‘According to the Deputy Foreign Minister, the conflict is a religious war against radical Islamist ideology, not a territorial one. Western leaders like Macron, she said, fail to grasp this. In her view, Hamas fights against universal Western values, leaving Israel with no choice but to defend itself.’
‘He emphasized that the goal of military operations, however, is not bloodshed, but to eliminate armed threats with as few civilian casualties as possible. Yet, according to the panellists, Western media often distorts this, replacing the complex reality of war with oversimplified narratives.’
‘In recent years, relations between Middle Eastern and Central European countries have become increasingly close in the fields of investment, renewable energy, education, and technological cooperation. Under the “Eastern Opening” policy of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, ties were significantly strengthened with non-Western countries…’
As Hungary’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade stated in 2023: ‘Hungary and Qatar share the same position concerning the vast majority of the world’s gravest problems.’
On the 100th anniversary of Hungarian–Iranian diplomatic ties, Hungary joined Iran Expo 2025 in Tehran, fostering business talks and new trade partnerships. With 3,100 traders from 111 countries, the expo underscored growing economic, agricultural, and educational cooperation between the two nations.
The Hungarian government took every step to protect Hungary and the Hungarian families.
Hungarian companies can play a significant role in the Saudi economy as the Kingdom opens its doors to foreign players.
The Jordanian–Hungarian relations have flourished recently, and Budapest is looking to enter the healthcare, food, and digital sectors in the following years.
Hungary and Egypt are cooperating to promote peace in Europe and stop illegal migration. Under their current agreement, Hungary can contribute to bringing internet access to millions of Egyptian homes.
‘Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó and his Moroccan counterpart, Nasser Bourita, held a joint press conference in Budapest in the middle of April…The negotiations between the two ministers ended with agreements on strengthening trade, investment, research, innovation and energy cooperation between the two countries.’
Although the regime change in Syria raised hopes for the restoration of stability, the protection of religious minorities has still not been realized. The mass killings committed in recent times indicate that minority communities remain in grave danger, which calls for decisive action from the international community.
‘Hungary’s humanitarian and military aid to Lebanon can contribute to regional stability and it also reflects Hungary’s broader geopolitical interests, that is, a stable Lebanon for the sake of the Middle East—and also for Europe, which faces potential security and migration challenges.’
‘Besides all the bad news, there are sometimes good ones, too, even from difficult regions like the Middle East. After a long time, a new president has been elected in Lebanon,’ Hungarian foreign minister Péter Szijjártó commented on the election of Michael Aoun.
In the new, post-Assad chapter of Syria’s history Hungary will likely continue to emphasize humanitarian aid, regional stability, and the prevention of migration crises in its Damascus policy. The Hungary Helps Program, coupled with EU-led initiatives, makes Hungary a proactive participant in addressing the Syrian crisis and fostering the stability of the Middle East.
In his remarks at the University of Nyíregyháza on Friday Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó noted: ‘The West seems willing to fight until the last Ukrainian youth with the possibility of lowering the conscription age’, adding that the Ukrainian nations’ future is at risk.
In a recent interview with The Jerusalem Post, Israeli Ambassador to Hungary Yacov Hadas-Handelsman argued that as opposed to its frequent portrayal as an anti-democratic and antisemitic country, the reality about Hungary is quite different. He highlighted the Orbán government’s steadfast support of Israel at international forums and the fact that Hungary is one of the safest countries in the world for Jewish people.
‘Instead of looking for explanations as to why this terrible thing happened, I suggest that we respond to death with life and fulfil everything that was not given to them, to those who died on 7 October. The murderers robbed them of their dreams, their hopes and their future; we have only one answer: let’s stand up together for them!’, Andor Grósz, President of the Federation of Hungarian Jewish Communities said at the Dohány Street synagogue commemoration in Budapest.
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Israel Israel Katz visited Hungary recently for the first time since he took up office. He met with President of Hungary Tamás Sulyok, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó, and the leaders of the Hungarian Jewish communities. The main aim of the visit was to determine, with Hungary soon taking over the presidency of the EU, how Budapest and the Union would take action against anti-Israel efforts in the next six months.
In the latest episodes of the Danube Institute’s podcast co-chair of the Israeli Sovereignty Movement Nadia Matar spoke about the nature of radical Islamist terrorism. To demonstrate her point, she showed a flag from the city of Bethlehem with the Arabic phrase ‘We will murder Jews on Saturdays and we will murder Christians on Sundays’ written on it.
16 April has been observed annually since 2001 as the Memorial Day of the Hungarian Victims of the Holocaust. On the 80th anniversary of the ghettoization of Hungarian Jews state dignitaries, including the Hungarian prime minister, and leaders of the Jewish community commemorated the victims.