Hungary–Israel relations

{{Infobox bilateral relations|Hungary–Israel|Hungary|Israel|map=Hungary Israel Locator.png|mission1=Embassy of Hungary, Tel Aviv|mission2=Embassy of Israel, Budapest|filetype=png}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}

Hungary–Israel relations are the foreign relations between Hungary and Israel. Hungary has an embassy in Tel Aviv and four honorary consulates (in Eilat, Haifa, Jerusalem and Tel Aviv).{{Cite web|url=http://www.mfa.gov.hu/kulkepviselet/IL/en/mainpage.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081026160824/http://www.mfa.gov.hu/kulkepviselet/IL/en/mainpage.htm|title=Hungarian embassy in Tel Aviv|archive-date=26 October 2008}} Israel has an embassy in Budapest and an honorary consulate in Szeged.{{cite web|url=http://budapest.mfa.gov.il/mfm/web/main/missionhome.asp?LanguageID=0&Question2=&MissionID=39&MissionID=|title=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Hungary|access-date=21 February 2015}}

According to the Israeli Central Bureau for Statistics, There were 47,500 Jews living in Hungary in 2018.{{cite news|first=Yaron|last=Drukman|url=https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-5226508,00.html|title=הלמ"ס: פחות יהודים היום מאשר לפני השואה|work=Ynet|date=10 April 2018|access-date=15 August 2021|language=he}} 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.{{cite web | url=http://www.eurojewcong.org/communities/hungary.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140325053326/http://www.eurojewcong.org/communities/hungary.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=25 March 2014 | title=Hungary | publisher=European Jewish Congress | access-date=24 March 2014 }}{{cite web | url=http://www.jta.org/1989/09/19/archive/hungary-re-establishe-full-ties-with-israel-ending-22-year-breach | title=Hungary Re-establishes Full Ties with Israel, Ending 22-year Breach | publisher=JTA | date=19 September 1989 | access-date=24 March 2014}}{{cite web | url=http://hungarianglobe.mandiner.hu/cikk/20130612_ilan_mor_interview_hungary_and_israel_are_in_many_ways_similar | title=Israeli Ambassador: Hungary And Israel Are in Many Ways Similar | date=4 June 2013 | access-date=24 March 2014|work=Hungarian Globe | author=Gellért Rajcsányi}}

History

===20th century===

File:Isaac Herzog in Beit HaNassi, November 2023 (ABG 2049).jpg 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.Liraz Lahmanovich,[https://www.yadvashem.org/he/articles/general/hungary.html שואת יהודי הונגריה], Yad VaShem

The diplomatic relations between Hungary and the State of Israel were officially established in 1949.[https://mfa.gov.il/MFAHEB/ForeignRelations/Documents/shnaton_2005.pdf שנתון המסמכים הרשמיים 2005], Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs Hungary opened a legation in Israel, along with other countries from the Eastern Bloc in 1952.[http://www.mfa.gov.il/mfaheb/aboutus/pages/foreign_relation.aspx?ViewMode=Print התפתחות יחסי החוץ של ישראל 1948 עד 2003], Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs 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.{{Cite web|url=https://publishersrow.com/www.publishersrow.com:443/book2788/booktextpreview/shid0_bid2788_fid31_pid15_clpg1_pg42_.htm|title=יחסי ישראל עם | PublishersRow.com|website=publishersrow.com}}

During the mass emigration of Soviet Jews in the late 1980s and early 1990s, Hungary played a critical transit role between the Soviet Union and Israel. With no direct flights permitted between Moscow and Tel Aviv until late 1991, Hungary emerged as a logistical bridge; between 1989 and 1991, more than 160,000 Soviet Jewish refugees traveled through Budapest on their way to Israel. This operation was supported by a joint agreement between Malév Hungarian Airlines and the Jewish Agency. Hungary’s involvement reflected its shift toward a pro-Western and human rights-oriented foreign policy, even as the country navigated internal democratic transition and external security threats tied to Middle Eastern tensions.{{Cite web |last=Farkas |first=Dániel |date=9 January 2025 |title=Hungary, Soviet Jewish Refugees, and the Making of a New Geopolitical Identity, 1989-1991 |url=https://danubeinstitute.hu/hu/kutatas/hungary-soviet-jewish-refugees-and-the-making-of-a-new-geopolitical-identity-1989-1991 |url-status=live |access-date=25 June 2025 |website=Danube Institute}}

=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.{{cite web|url=https://k-larevue.com/en/viktor-orbans-country/|title=Jews and antisemites in Viktor Orbán's country|last=Gadó|first=János|date=19 September 2024|work=K|accessdate=14 April 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://www.newarab.com/analysis/why-israel-embracing-europes-far-right-parties|title=Why Israel is embracing Europe's far-right parties|last=Buxbaum|first=Jessica|date=6 March 2025|work=The New Arab|accessdate=14 April 2025}}

In 2019, Hungary opened a trade office in Jerusalem, recognizing it as an integral part of Israel de facto.Ariel Kahana, [https://www.israelhayom.co.il/article/642397 הונגריה חנכה נציגות דיפלומטית רשמית בירושלים], Israel Hayom, 19 March 2019

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".[https://www.maariv.co.il/news/politics/Article-766829 שר החוץ ההונגרי שוחח עם אשכנזי: "נמשיך לעמוד לצד ישראל"], Maariv, 21 May 2020 Later that year, the two countries have decided to co-operate in the field of Space-research.Uriel Be'eri, [https://www.srugim.co.il/471560-%D7%99%D7%A9%D7%A8%D7%90%D7%9C-%D7%95%D7%94%D7%95%D7%A0%D7%92%D7%A8%D7%99%D7%94-%D7%A1%D7%99%D7%9B%D7%9E%D7%95-%D7%A9%D7%99%D7%AA%D7%95%D7%A3-%D7%A4%D7%A2%D7%95%D7%9C%D7%94-%D7%91%D7%97%D7%A7%D7%A8 ישראל והונגריה סיכמו: שיתוף פעולה בחקר החלל], Srugim, 20 July 2020

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," he said. "These are usually very much one-sided, and these statements do not help, especially not under current circumstances, when the tension is so high."{{Cite web|date=18 May 2021|title=Hungary FM condemns EU's 'one-sided' statements on Israel|url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210518-hungary-fm-condemns-eu-s-one-sided-statements-on-israel|access-date=19 May 2021|website=France 24|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=18 May 2021|title=Borrell calls for Israeli-Palestinian ceasefire, but Hungary blocks joint EU position|url=https://www.politico.eu/article/borrell-calls-for-israeli-palestinian-ceasefire-as-hungary-blocks-joint-eu-position/|access-date=19 May 2021|website=Politico|first1=Hans|last1=von der Burchard|first2=David M.|last2=Herszenhorn|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=tagesschau.de|title=Ungarn blockiert EU-Erklärung zum Nahost-Konflikt|url=https://www.tagesschau.de/ungarn-eu-nahost-konflikt-erklaerung-101.html|access-date=19 May 2021|website=tagesschau.de|language=de}}{{Cite web|date=19 May 2021|title=Hungary blocks EU declaration on Israel-Palestine ceasefire|url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/hungary-blocks-eu-declaration-on-israel-palestine-ceasefire/|access-date=19 May 2021|website=www.euractiv.com|language=en-GB}}

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.{{cite web |title=Israeli PM Thanks PM Orbán for Hungarian Govt's Consistent International Support |url=https://hungarytoday.hu/bennett-orban-hungary-israel-relations/ |website=Hungary Today |language=en |date=11 January 2022}}

In October 2023, against the background of the beginning of Gaza war, Orbán made pro-Israel statements: "Hungary will not allow any rallies supporting "terrorist organisations," he said, as cited by Reuters;{{Cite news |last=Szakacs |first=Gergely |date=13 October 2023 |title=Hungary to ban rallies supporting 'terrorist organisations', Orban says |work=Site of Reuters News Agency |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/hungary-ban-rallies-supporting-terrorist-organisations-pm-orban-2023-10-13/ |access-date=}} "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.

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.{{Cite web |title=Components for pagers used in Lebanon blasts not from Taiwan, minister says |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2024/9/20/components-for-pagers-used-in-lebanon-blasts-not-from-taiwan-minister-says |access-date=17 October 2024 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}}

In April 2025, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Budapest,{{Cite web |date=3 April 2025 |title=Hungary withdraws from International Criminal Court during Netanyahu visit |last1=Tasch |first1=Barbara |last2=Holligan |first2=Anna |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c807lm2003zo |access-date=3 April 2025 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}} despite the International Criminal Court's arrest warrant for Netanyahu for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip.{{cite news |last1=De La Feld |first1=Simone |title=European leaders' support for Netanyahu and the defeat of international law: From Macron to Merz to Orbán |url=https://www.eunews.it/en/2025/03/31/european-leaders-support-for-netanyahu-and-the-defeat-of-international-law-from-macron-to-merz-to-orban/ |work=Eunews.it |date=31 March 2025}} Orbàn announced that Hungary would be withdrawing from the ICC due its attempted prosecution of Israeli officials.{{cite web|url=https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2025/04/hungarys-illiberal-orban-israels-staunchest-friend-eu|title=Hungary's 'illiberal' Orban, Israel's staunchest friend in the EU|last=Molnár|first=Géza|date=2 April 2025|work=AL-Monitor}}{{cite web|url=https://jacobin.com/2025/04/orban-netanyahu-israel-war-crimes|title=Viktor Orbán's Shameful Embrace of Benjamin Netanyahu|last=Zsurzsán|first=Anita|date=2 April 2025|website=Jacobin|accessdate=14 April 2025}}

Trade

Israel and Hungary trade is also influenced by the EU - Israel Free Trade Agreement from 1995.https://www.gov.il/BlobFolder/policy/eu-isr-fta/he/sahar-hutz_agreements_euro-fta-agri-2010-en.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=May 2025}}https://www.gov.il/BlobFolder/policy/eu-isr-fta/he/sahar-hutz_agreements_euro-fta-agreement-en.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=May 2025}}

class="wikitable"

|+Israel - Hungary trade in millions USD-$ {{Cite web |title=סחר החוץ לפי ארצות בשנת 2023 |url=https://www.cbs.gov.il/he/mediarelease/pages/2024/%D7%A1%D7%97%D7%A8-%D7%94%D7%97%D7%95%D7%A5-%D7%9C%D7%A4%D7%99-%D7%90%D7%A8%D7%A6%D7%95%D7%AA-%D7%91%D7%A9%D7%A0%D7%AA-2023.aspx |access-date=28 November 2024 |website=www.cbs.gov.il |language=he-IL}}{{Cite web |title=סחר החוץ לפי ארצות בשנת 2020 |url=https://www.cbs.gov.il/he/mediarelease/pages/2021/%D7%A1%D7%97%D7%A8-%D7%94%D7%97%D7%95%D7%A5-%D7%9C%D7%A4%D7%99-%D7%90%D7%A8%D7%A6%D7%95%D7%AA-%D7%91%D7%A9%D7%A0%D7%AA-2020.aspx |access-date=28 November 2024 |website=www.cbs.gov.il |language=he-IL}}{{Cite web |title=סחר החוץ לפי ארצות בשנת 2017 |url=https://www.cbs.gov.il/he/mediarelease/Pages/2018/%D7%A1%D7%97%D7%A8-%D7%94%D7%97%D7%95%D7%A5-%D7%9C%D7%A4%D7%99-%D7%90%D7%A8%D7%A6%D7%95%D7%AA-%D7%91%D7%A9%D7%A0%D7%AA-2017.aspx |access-date=28 November 2024 |website=www.cbs.gov.il |language=he-IL}}{{Cite web |title=סחר החוץ לפי ארצות בשנת 2014 |url=https://www.cbs.gov.il/he/mediarelease/Pages/2015/%D7%A1%D7%97%D7%A8-%D7%94%D7%97%D7%95%D7%A5-%D7%9C%D7%A4%D7%99-%D7%90%D7%A8%D7%A6%D7%95%D7%AA-%D7%91%D7%A9%D7%A0%D7%AA-2014.aspx |access-date=28 November 2024 |website=www.cbs.gov.il |language=he-IL}}{{Cite web |title=סחר החוץ של ישראל לפי ארצות בשנת 2011 |url=https://www.cbs.gov.il/he/mediarelease/Pages/2012/%D7%A1%D7%97%D7%A8-%D7%94%D7%97%D7%95%D7%A5-%D7%A9%D7%9C-%D7%99%D7%A9%D7%A8%D7%90%D7%9C-%D7%9C%D7%A4%D7%99-%D7%90%D7%A8%D7%A6%D7%95%D7%AA-%D7%91%D7%A9%D7%A0%D7%AA-2011.aspx |access-date=28 November 2024 |website=www.cbs.gov.il |language=he-IL}}{{Cite web |title=סחר החוץ לפי ארצות בשנת 2008 |url=https://www.cbs.gov.il/he/mediarelease/Pages/2009/%D7%A1%D7%97%D7%A8-%D7%94%D7%97%D7%95%D7%A5-%D7%9C%D7%A4%D7%99-%D7%90%D7%A8%D7%A6%D7%95%D7%AA-%D7%91%D7%A9%D7%A0%D7%AA-2008.aspx |access-date=28 November 2024 |website=www.cbs.gov.il |language=he-IL}}{{Cite web |title=סחר החוץ לפי ארצות בשנת 2005 |url=https://www.cbs.gov.il/he/mediarelease/Pages/2006/%D7%A1%D7%97%D7%A8-%D7%94%D7%97%D7%95%D7%A5-%D7%9C%D7%A4%D7%99-%D7%90%D7%A8%D7%A6%D7%95%D7%AA-%D7%91%D7%A9%D7%A0%D7%AA-2005.aspx |access-date=28 November 2024 |website=www.cbs.gov.il |language=he-IL}}

!

!{{Flag|Israel}} import

{{Flag|Hungary}} exports

!{{Flag|Hungary}} imports

{{Flag|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.{{cite web | url=https://www.gov.il/en/departments/dynamiccollectors/mfa-accords?skip=0&Parties=Hungary&Subject_main=Consular%20Matters | title=The government services and information website }}

class="wikitable"

|+Arrivals between Hungary and Israel (2016-2023)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 {{Bare URL PDF|date=May 2025}}https://www.iaa.gov.il/media/puoethel/annual-report-2021.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=May 2025}}https://www.iaa.gov.il/media/2kec51zs/annual-report-bgia-2019.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=May 2025}}https://www.iaa.gov.il/media/1iflo2r4/annual-report-bgia-2017.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=May 2025}}https://www.cbs.gov.il/he/mediarelease/doclib/2024/005/28_24_005t3.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=May 2025}}https://www.cbs.gov.il/he/publications/doclib/2024/1929_tourism_2022/t04.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=May 2025}}

!

!2023

!2022

!2021

!2020

!2019

!2018

!2017

!2016

Passengers flying between {{Flag|Israel}} and {{Flag|Hungary}}

|577,985

|535,900

|166,529

|99,843

|555,831

|462,474

|387,342

|301,228

Tourists from {{Flag|Hungary}} visiting {{Flag|Israel}}

|23,100

|16,100

|1,400

|9,400

|39,100

|31,100

|22,400

|16,500

Resident diplomatic missions

See also

References

{{reflist}}

Further reading

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