As first reported by the Jerusalem Post, Minister for Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Amichai Chikli met with Hungarian State Secretary in charge of Civil Affairs, Minorities, and Churches Miklós Soltész on Monday in Jerusalem and requested that Hungary help stop European funding for Palestinian organisations that are hostile to Israel.

Hungary Supports Israel and Fights Antisemitism

Chikli commended the Hungarian government for its consistent support for the State of Israel and asked for its aid in halting the European Union’s backing for Palestinian groups that are hostile to Israel. The meeting was also attended by Rabbi Slomó Köves, Chief Rabbi of the Association of United Hungarian Jewish Congregations (EMIH), who accompanied Soltész on his visit to Israel.

Chikli thanked the Hungarian government and the Jewish community for founding Machne Chabad, a refugee camp that has helped more than a thousand Ukrainian Jews displaced by the war. Chabad Hungary and Ukraine found the facility, with assistance from the Hungarian government.

The two politicians discussed the fight against antisemitism in Europe and Hungary. Soltész told Chikli of the constitutional amendments that Hungary has implemented over the past ten years to better combat antisemitism. These amendments were drafted in cooperation with Jewish community organisations, with the Action and Protection League (APL) taking the lead.

New Antisemitism Manifested in Hatred of the Jewish State

The officials concurred that anti-Israel attitudes have evolved into a new variety of antisemitism, and they demand particular consideration on a global scale. In addition to inviting Chikli to visit Hungary, Soltész promised that the Hungarian government will continue to support Israel in all international fora.

According to recent research on the state of antisemitism by the Diaspora Affairs Ministry, as revealed by Minister Amichai Chikli during a cabinet meeting last week, 68 per cent of online anti-Jewish racism originates in Palestinian or progressive, pro-Palestinian circles. ‘Antisemitism is changing how it manifests and it is increasingly focusing on hatred towards the Jewish state and the denial of its right to exist,’ Chikli said.

‘The State of Israel has a duty to lead the fight against antisemitism and to take action in order to expand the adoption of the IHRA (International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance) definition of antisemitism in as many countries and institutions as possible,’ Chikli concluded.

Soltész Also Met with Israeli Minister of Religious Affairs and Chief Rabbi Landau

EMIH Chief Rabbi Slomó Köves reported on his Facebook page that he and Minister Soltész also met with Israeli Chief Rabbi David Baruch Lau and Minister of Religious Affairs Michael Malchieli. According to Rabbi Köves, an agreement was reached that the governments of Israel and Hungary will continue to cooperate closely in matters affecting the Hungarian Jewish community, with a special emphasis on the development and strengthening of Hungarian Jewish heritage sites.