Israeli President Isaac Herzog met Hungary’s new leaders in Budapest on Oct. 20, as Prime Minister Péter Magyar backed deeper economic and defense cooperation following Hungary’s change of government.
Herzog and Hungarian President András Baka held a private meeting and wider bilateral meeting at Sándor Palace, Israel’s presidential office said. In remarks published by the office, Baka called Israel an important economic partner and said Hungary intended to continue working with it.
Herzog said the countries were pursuing closer cooperation on economic and technological matters. He also praised Hungary’s role in Israel’s relations with the European Union, placing the talks in the context of Israel’s wider European ties.
After his meeting with Herzog, Magyar wrote on Facebook that the two had agreed to strengthen cultural, economic and defense cooperation. The prime minister also said he had accepted Herzog’s invitation to visit Israel.
Magyar took office in May after his Tisza Party won Hungary’s election. Baka said Herzog’s visit would help strengthen ties with the country’s new leadership. His remarks and Magyar’s post both pointed to continued cooperation following the change in government.
Security was another focus of the presidents’ public statements. Herzog described Iran and groups aligned with it as a threat extending beyond the Middle East. Baka emphasized peace and stability and said Hungary remained committed to protecting Jewish communities and opposing antisemitism.
Both presidents referred to events from 1956. Herzog spoke about the Hungarian Revolution, while Baka recalled that the uprising and the Suez Crisis took place in the same year. They drew on that history in their remarks about security today.
European Union leaders are due in Budapest for Hungary’s Oct. 23 commemoration of the 1956 uprising.
