Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Dayan (C) during the Yom Kippur War in 1973.

The 2023 Attack on Israel: Haunting Echoes from the Past

On 7 October, the terrorist group Hamas commenced the largest and bloodiest attack against Israel since the Yom Kippur War. In many ways, the aggression echoes not only the 1973 war, but also the al-Qaeda terrorist attacks on the US as well.

Katalin Novák, Andor Grósz (L) and President of the Budapest Jewish Religious Community Tamás Mester light candles in memory of the victims of the Hamas attack outside the Dohány Street synagogue on 11 October 2023.

Israel’s Darkest Day and Its Message to the World

On Wednesday, the Dohány Street Synagogue filled with people for a solidarity service held by the Hungarian Jewish communities. Dr Andor Grósz, head of the Hungarian Jewish Federation MAZSIHISZ, said: ‘The mourning and grief of the Jewish community is shared by Hungarian society,’ adding that the Hamas terrorists ‘brutally violated the Ten Commandments, a gift of the Torah to mankind.’

Ariel Bulshtein, former adviser to the prime minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu

‘If Crazy People Say They Want to Exterminate Us, We’d Better Believe Them’ — An Interview with Ariel Bulshtein, Senior Advisor to the Israeli PM

‘Israel does recognize who were the true friends and Hungary has proved for a long period of time under Viktor Orbán’s leadership that—despite the pressure from larger and possibly more powerful European countries—it can stand alone at times and will not conform with this general line that of “both sides are to blame, both sides are wrong, and let them find the solution”. Hungary understands without any doubt who the murderers are and who the victims are.’

Péter Szijjártó Emphasizes the Importance of the International Community Acting Together

Minister Szijjártó expressed Hungary’s deep concern over the Israel terrorist attacks and their potential consequences, which could easily lead to one of the largest humanitarian disasters in history. He believes that this tragedy occurred at the worst possible time, as the process of normalizing the situation had just begun, and significant steps had been taken towards peace, which now could be jeopardized and rendered null.

Gergely Gulyás: Hungary Fully Supports Israel

‘The first thing we can wish for Israel in the current situation is that it should regain control over the entire territory of the state of Israel and establish the security guarantees needed to prevent similar bestial attacks from happening in the future,’ Gulyás said.

WHO Director-General to Visit Budapest Soon

After meeting Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in Geneva, Switzerland, Minister Szijjártó stated that they have been working together for a long time, as he previously served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs for his country, Ethiopia, thus their relationship dates back to that time. ‘I have always valued his work; he was able to keep the WHO as a politically neutral, professional organization, which was crucial in overcoming the coronavirus,’ Minister Szijjártó stated about the health official.

Could the Hamas Incursion of Israel Have Been Avoided?

‘All things being equal, the roots to the actual deadly conflict are profound, as already mentioned. Yet it does not help the cause of peace to keep doing business with Iran, just as the United States has done under the Obama administration and is still doing under the present one.’