Orban is the catastrophe of liberal European politics, a symbol of a nationalist, authoritarian tendency contrary to the values espoused by Brussels. Some of the accusations against Orban are serious: that he is eroding Hungarian democracy, that he is seeking to minimize Hungary’s complicity in the Holocaust and that he is trading anti-Semitic tropes, that he is in bed with Russian Vladimir Putin. These allegations will continue to be debated in Europe and elsewhere. But for Israel, and for those in his government who are involved in realpolitik, Orban’s victory is a diplomatic blessing: Hungary under Orban has proved to be a strong friend of Israel in European institutions. In January, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett thanked Orban for “Hungary’s firm support for Israel in international institutions”. On Thursday, President Isaac Herzog sent a letter to the Hungarian prime minister congratulating him on his victory, calling him a “friend and ally”. Get the Times of Israel Daily E-mail and never miss our top stories By registering, you agree to the terms Orban’s undisputed election victory gives the Hungarian leader a firm mandate in his country to resist various EU positions – including Israel. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban greets cheering supporters during a rally in Budapest, Hungary, on Sunday, April 3, 2022. (AP Photo / Petr David Josek)
“A strong new command”
Budapest has been the most ardent supporter of Jerusalem in the European Union in recent years, blocking several attempts to make statements critical of Israeli policies. In 2020, Hungary was one of the only countries that did not speak publicly against Israel’s plan, since it was destroyed, to unilaterally annex West Bank areas. Due to the nature of the EU foreign policy process, even the smallest countries have the power to thwart European initiatives. The bloc makes decisions based on consensus, which means that Israel’s convictions must be approved by all 27 member states – including the traditionally pro-Israeli Visegrad Group, an alliance of Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Hungary’s ambassador to Israel, Levente Benkő, hinted at Hungary ‘s growing confidence in its talks with Brussels. From left to right: Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Jerusalem, 11 March 2021 (Haim Tzah / GPO) “With one of the highest turnout ever recorded in an election since the fall of communism, the Hungarians sent a very clear message, giving a strong new mandate to the current government,” Benkő told the Times of Israel on Thursday. “This is a democratic legitimacy that can hardly be ignored by our partners in the ongoing discussions between the European Commission and Hungary. “Especially since many aspects of these discussions are about issues that still fall within the exclusive competence of the Member States – and we would like it to remain that way.” “The election did not in any way change Hungary’s firm support for Israel in international organizations and for the recognition of its inalienable right to self-defense,” Benkő said. With 85.96% of the votes counted, the party list voted: Fidesz-KDNP 53.71% United Opposition 34.41Mi Hungary 6.31 Seat view: Fidesz-KDNP 135United opponent 56Mi Hungary 7 – About Hungary (@abouthungary) April 3, 2022 In addition, Orban is less isolated in Europe than many believe.
The problem of Ukraine
Hungary has been criticized on the continent for opposing a sweeping European embargo on Russian gas and oil. Relying heavily on Russian energy to heat its homes and power its builders, Hungary is adamantly opposed to shutting down Russian pipelines without a realistic alternative. In addition, Budapest is currently sending gas to Ukraine, and in the event of an embargo on Russian imports, it is likely to cut off supplies to Ukraine before letting its citizens freeze. The tanker Sun Arrows loads its cargo with liquefied natural gas from the Sakhalin-2 project in the port of Prigorodnoye, Russia, October 29, 2021. (AP Photo, Archive) But many other EU countries, while pushing for renewable energy to invest in fossil fuels, are also unable to cut off Russian energy. Germany, which is shutting down its nuclear power plants, also needs Russia to fuel its huge economy and is publicly opposed to a full-scale embargo. Austria, Bulgaria and other Central European countries have also expressed opposition to the embargo. At the same time, Orban was willing to support all rounds of EU sanctions against Russia up to this point, citing the need for unity in Europe. Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, shakes hands with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban during a joint press conference after their talks in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia on September 18, 2018. (AP Photo / Alexander Zemlianichenko, Pool) And although Orban will not supply lethal weapons to Kyiv or allow them to pass through Hungary directly to Ukraine, he allows lethal weapons to pass from the country to Poland and then to Ukraine. Hungary has also received more Ukrainian refugees per capita than any other European country. Most importantly, Orban is allowing thousands of NATO troops to move into the country as the alliance seeks to strengthen its deterrence against Moscow. That did not stop the Hungarian leader from waging a fierce civil war with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. In the run-up to the election, the Ukrainian leader called Budapest “the Russian branch in Europe” and said Brussels should “stop listening to Budapest’s excuses”. During his victory speech, Orban singled out Zelensky as one of the forces he defeated in the election, citing “the left at home, the international left everywhere, the bureaucrats of Brussels, the Soros empire with all its money.” the international media, and in the end, even the Ukrainian president. “ A family of Ukrainian refugees and other Ukrainians fleeing their country arrive at the Ukraine-Hungary border crossing at Tiszabecs on 27 February 2022. (Attila Kisbenedek / AFP)
Concerns about the far right
Despite his constant attacks on the liberal Jewish billionaire George Soros – rhetoric condemned by Jewish groups in Hungary as anti-Semitic – Orban has expressed his aversion to anti-Semitism. During a press conference Wednesday, Orban stressed that his policy of zero tolerance for anti-Semitism would remain in place. He also defeated an opposition coalition that welcomed the far-right Jobbik party to its ranks. In a political bloc similar to the one that ousted Benjamin Netanyahu last year, the United for Hungary alliance met with the sole purpose of removing Orban from power. It included the Green Party and the Hungarian Socialist Party on the left and Jobbik, which critics say is a neo-Nazi party, on its right. Supporters of the radical nationalist Jobbik party attend the celebration of the 1848 uprising against the rule of the Hapsburgs in Budapest, Hungary, on March 15, 2015. (AP Photo / MTI, Tamas Kovacs) The plan failed dramatically. Many far-right voters refused to vote for communists and leftists did not want to support the fascists.
V4 or V3 + 1;
Despite Orban’s clear victory, there are some worrying signs for Israel. The war in Ukraine has exposed the rifts between Visegrad Hungary and Slovakia on the one hand and strongly anti-Russian Czechs and Poles on the other. “After the Russia-Ukraine war, Poland seems to be making a U-turn and returning to the EU,” Maya Sion-Tzidkiyahu, director of the Israeli-European relations program, told Mitvim. “This isolates Hungary and the EU has started to apply Article 7 against it.” Members of Congress applaud Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky before addressing a keynote address to Congress at the US Capitol Visitor Center in Washington, DC, on Wednesday, March 16, 2022. (Sarahbeth Maney / The New York Times Pool, File) In 2018, the European Parliament initiated the Article 7 proceedings against Budapest for allegedly undermining democratic values and the rule of law of the bloc. This could result in the country losing its voting rights. It has also taken the same measures against Poland, but has not proceeded to advanced stages of the proceedings against any country. “Without the support of Poland to stop this move, Orban will find himself in an even more direct confrontation with the EU,” Zion-Jindkiyahu continued. “They are already in a budget conflict with them.” Two days after Orban’s victory in the polls, the European Commission announced that it would cut funding from Hungary for violating the rule of law. Archive: Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett speak during their meeting in Sochi, Russia, October 22, 2021 (Evgeny Biyatov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP) And yet, despite tensions within the pro-Israel bloc, it is unlikely that he will disappear or stop supporting Jerusalem. The four countries, like the others that were in the Soviet bloc, represent populations that are much more conservative, nationalistic and often religious than their peers in Western Europe. Hungary’s policies may anger Ukraine and many EU countries, but Orban has shown that Hungarians expect their leaders to put their own interests first, especially when it comes to Russia. While many have sympathy for the Ukrainians, they know that it is not their struggle and see no reason to provoke …
