Hungary–Israel relations

Hungary–Israel relations

Hungary	Israel
Diplomatic mission
Embassy of Hungary, Tel Aviv	Embassy of Israel, Budapest

Hungary–Israel relations are the foreign relations between Hungary and Israel. Hungary has an embassy in Tel Aviv and 4 honorary consulates (in Eilat, Haifa, Jerusalem and Tel Aviv).^[1] Israel has an embassy in Budapest and an honorary consulate in Szeged.^[2]

According to the Israeli Central Bureau for Statistics, There were 47,500 Jews living in Hungary in 2018.^[3] Both countries are full members of the Union for the Mediterranean.

Both countries have stressed the increasing trade and tourism between one another and an estimated 30,000 Hungarian Jews emigrated to Israel in 1948.^[4][5][6]

History

20th century

Hungarian President Katalin Novák with Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Jerusalem, 5 November 2023

During the first half of the 20th century, many Hungarian Jews had been suffering from antisemitism. The Nazis killed 564,000 Hungarian Jews in 1944 – during the Holocaust.^[7]

The diplomatic relations between Hungary and the State of Israel were officially established in 1949.^[8] Hungary opened a legation in Israel, along with other countries from the Eastern Bloc in 1952.^[9] Hungary severed its relations with Israel after the Six-day war, like many other countries from Eastern Europe, as a result of that, the Hungarian legation in Israel closed.

In the late-1980s Mikhail Gorbachev started reforms of democratization in the USSR. The Hungarian leader János Kádár agreed with Gorbachev's reforms, and its country became closer to the western countries. The first unofficial ties between the countries started in September 1987, when Hungary and Israel opened non-resident interest offices for each other. The official diplomatic relations have fully restored in 1989.^[10]

21st century

In the 21st century, Hungary is known as one of the closest allies of Israel in Europe, breaking the European consensus many times and standing on Israel's side. The Hungarian and Israeli leaders have both made official visits many times.

In 2019, Hungary opened a trade office in Jerusalem, recognizing it as an integral part of Israel de facto.^[11]

On 21 May 2020, the Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs has spoken to his Israeli colleague and told him that "Hungary will always stand beside Israel". He also criticized Europe for its "politic hypocrisy".^[12] Later that year, the two countries have decided to co-operate in the field of Space-research.^[13]

On 18 May 2021, Hungary blocked the EU from taking a formal position on 2021 Israel–Palestine crisis. Hungary's Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó accused the EU of opposing Israel. "I have a general problem with these European statements on Israel..., These are usually very much one-sided, and these statements do not help, especially not under current circumstances, when the tension is so high." - he told.^{[14][15][16][17]}

In January 2022, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett thanked his Hungarian counterpart, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, for the Hungarian government’s consistent support of Israel at international forums.^[18]

In October 2023, against the background of the beginning of Israel–Hamas war, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán made pro-Israel statements: "Hungary will not allow any rallies supporting "terrorist organisations," he said, as cited by Reuters;^[19] "It is shocking that there are sympathy rallies supporting the terrorists across Europe," Orban said, referencing the European fallout from the Hamas attack on Israel." as reported by Reuters.^[19]

In September 2024, amid reports of exploding pagers and walkie-talkies in Lebanon, early investigations revealed the devices used were not manufactured by the Tavisa-freed company, Gold Apollo, but manufactured by a Budapest-based company licensed to reuse the Gold Apollo name.^[20]

Trade

Israel and Hungary trade is also influenced by the EU - Israel Free Trade Agreement from 1995.^[21][22]

Israel - Hungary trade in millions USD-$ ^[23]^[24]^[25]^[26]^[27]^[28]^[29]^[30]

	Israel import  Hungary exports	Hungary imports  Israel exports	Total trade value
2023	391.7	248.9	640.6
2022	358.1	146.1	504.2
2021	313.5	153.1	466.6
2020	244.8	126.1	370.9
2019	261.2	128.5	389.7
2018	301.1	138.2	439.3
2017	272.2	129.6	401.8
2016	372.7	120.7	493.4
2015	283.8	123.8	407.6
2014	304.7	169.7	474.4
2013	272.8	160.8	433.6
2012	390.3	189	579.3
2011	260	152.8	412.8
2010	268.6	106.9	375.5
2009	252.4	113.1	365.5
2008	288.8	174.5	463.3
2007	195.6	116.3	311.9
2006	399.1	97.6	496.7
2005	144.1	75.5	219.6
2004	171	78	249
2003	110.3	63.1	173.4
2002	77.3	50.8	128.1

Tourism

Hungary is very popular among Israeli tourists, and since 1994 Hungary and Israel have visa-free agreement.^[31]

Arrivals between Hungary and Israel (2016-2023)^[32]^[33]^[34]^[35]^[36]^[37]

	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016
Passengers flying between  Israel and  Hungary	577,985	535,900	166,529	99,843	555,831	462,474	387,342	301,228
Tourists from  Hungary visiting  Israel	23,100	16,100	1,400	9,400	39,100	31,100	22,400	16,500

See also

• Foreign relations of Hungary
• Foreign relations of Israel
• History of the Jews in Hungary

References

1. "Hungarian embassy in Tel Aviv". Archived from the original on 26 October 2008.
2. "Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Hungary". Retrieved 21 February 2015.
3. Drukman, Yaron (10 April 2018). "הלמ"ס: פחות יהודים היום מאשר לפני השואה". Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 15 August 2021.
4. "Hungary". European Jewish Congress. Archived from the original on 25 March 2014. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
5. "Hungary Re-establishes Full Ties with Israel, Ending 22-year Breach". JTA. 19 September 1989. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
6. Gellért Rajcsányi (4 June 2013). "Israeli Ambassador: Hungary And Israel Are in Many Ways Similar". Hungarian Globe. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
7. Liraz Lahmanovich,שואת יהודי הונגריה, Yad VaShem
8. שנתון המסמכים הרשמיים 2005, Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs
9. התפתחות יחסי החוץ של ישראל 1948 עד 2003, Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs
10. ציוני דרך ביחסים הדיפלומטיים של ישראל והונגריה
11. Ariel Kahana, הונגריה חנכה נציגות דיפלומטית רשמית בירושלים, Israel Hayom, 19 March 2019
12. שר החוץ ההונגרי שוחח עם אשכנזי: "נמשיך לעמוד לצד ישראל", Maariv, 21 May 2020
13. Uriel Be'eri, ישראל והונגריה סיכמו: שיתוף פעולה בחקר החלל, Srugim, 20 July 2020
14. "Hungary FM condemns EU's 'one-sided' statements on Israel". France 24. 2021-05-18. Retrieved 2021-05-19.
15. von der Burchard, Hans; Herszenhorn, David M. (18 May 2021). "Borrell calls for Israeli-Palestinian ceasefire, but Hungary blocks joint EU position". Politico. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
16. tagesschau.de. "Ungarn blockiert EU-Erklärung zum Nahost-Konflikt". tagesschau.de (in German). Retrieved 2021-05-19.
17. "Hungary blocks EU declaration on Israel-Palestine ceasefire". www.euractiv.com. 2021-05-19. Retrieved 2021-05-19.
18. "Israeli PM Thanks PM Orbán for Hungarian Govt's Consistent International Support". Hungary Today. 11 January 2022.
19. Szakacs, Gergely (13 October 2023). "Hungary to ban rallies supporting 'terrorist organisations', Orban says". Site of Reuters News Agency.
20. "Components for pagers used in Lebanon blasts not from Taiwan, minister says". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-10-17.
21. https://www.gov.il/BlobFolder/policy/eu-isr-fta/he/sahar-hutz_agreements_euro-fta-agri-2010-en.pdf
22. https://www.gov.il/BlobFolder/policy/eu-isr-fta/he/sahar-hutz_agreements_euro-fta-agreement-en.pdf
23. "סחר החוץ לפי ארצות בשנת 2023". www.cbs.gov.il (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2024-11-28.
24. "סחר החוץ לפי ארצות בשנת 2020". www.cbs.gov.il (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2024-11-28.
25. "סחר החוץ לפי ארצות בשנת 2017". www.cbs.gov.il (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2024-11-28.
26. "סחר החוץ לפי ארצות בשנת 2014". www.cbs.gov.il (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2024-11-28.
27. "סחר החוץ של ישראל לפי ארצות בשנת 2011". www.cbs.gov.il (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2024-11-28.
28. "סחר החוץ של ישראל לפי ארצות בשנת 2011". www.cbs.gov.il (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2024-11-28.
29. "סחר החוץ לפי ארצות בשנת 2008". www.cbs.gov.il (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2024-11-28.
30. "סחר החוץ לפי ארצות בשנת 2005". www.cbs.gov.il (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2024-11-28.
31. https://www.gov.il/en/departments/dynamiccollectors/mfa-accords?skip=0&Parties=Hungary&Subject_main=Consular%20Matters
32. https://www.iaa.gov.il/media/pf4pdny3/%D7%93%D7%95%D7%97-%D7%A9%D7%A0%D7%AA%D7%99-%D7%90%D7%A0%D7%92%D7%9C%D7%99%D7%AA-2023-%D7%9E%D7%95%D7%A0%D7%92%D7%A9-%D7%9E%D7%95%D7%A7%D7%98%D7%9F.pdf
33. https://www.iaa.gov.il/media/puoethel/annual-report-2021.pdf
34. https://www.iaa.gov.il/media/2kec51zs/annual-report-bgia-2019.pdf
35. https://www.iaa.gov.il/media/1iflo2r4/annual-report-bgia-2017.pdf
36. https://www.cbs.gov.il/he/mediarelease/doclib/2024/005/28_24_005t3.pdf
37. https://www.cbs.gov.il/he/publications/doclib/2024/1929_tourism_2022/t04.pdf

Further reading

• Yosef Govrin, יחסי ישראל עם מדינות מזרח אירופה, Magnes, 2009.

External links

• Media related to Relations of Hungary and Israel at Wikimedia Commons