Hosting Eli Cohen, Hungarian FM says bilateral ties at ‘historic high point’

During his meeting with his Israeli counterpart Eli Cohen in Budapest, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó blasts the European Union’s slanted policy toward the Jewish state, according to Israel’s readout of the conversation.

Szijjártó also assures Cohen that Israel can rely on Hungary in international institutions, and that his country would turn to the International Criminal Court in The Hague to oppose Palestinian attempts to implicate Israel there.

The Hungarian diplomat expresses Budapest’s opposition to the Palestinian Authority’s policy of paying convicted terrorists in Israeli prisons.

According to Hungary, Szijjártó says “cooperation between Hungary and Israel is at a historic high point.” He stresses that Hungary supports Israel’s right to self-defense, condemns terrorism, and calls “for the need for a fair approach towards Israel within the UN.”

The Hungarian statement does not mention the EU.

Szijjártó reiterates Hungary’s stand against antisemitism, while emphasizing “the role of illegal migration in modern antisemitism.”

Cohen also meets Hungary’s President Katalin Novák, but will not end up meeting Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.