We fully support Israel in the fight it is waging for its own territorial sovereignty, its own security and its right to self-defense - emphasized Gergely Gulyás, Minister in charge of the Prime Minister's Office, at the International Pro-Israel Summit on Monday in Budapest.
At the event organized by the Center for Fundamental Rights, the minister stated that friends are primarily needed in times of trouble, and it is in times of trouble that you show who a real friend is.
The first thing we can wish for Israel in this situation is to regain full control over the territory of the State of Israel as soon as possible and to create the security guarantees necessary to prevent a similar bestial attack from happening again, he said.
According to Gergely Gulyás, what happened sends a message to Europe that external border protection cannot be a controversial issue, it cannot be just a political slogan, but a task that can be held accountable and implemented for all countries that protect the Schengen external border zone.
If we don't do this, the current conflict could have tragic consequences for Europe as well, he pointed out. He added: in the current situation, cooperation is the most important thing, the coalition behind Israel must be strong enough.
Gergely Gulyás called Saturday's attack brutal and cruelty incompatible with human existence. We sympathize with the victims and assure Israel of our maximum solidarity, he declared.
He also mentioned that terrorists can come to Europe from the Gaza Strip if the borders are not protected. In this connection, he mentioned that a good number of migrants who settled in several countries of Western Europe welcomed what happened in Israel.
If Europe does not take into account its own security interests, it could also be the loser of this conflict, the minister underlined. He also stated: it is not enough just to deal with the terrorists, it is also necessary to make it clear that supporting terrorism is impermissible.
According to his words, American diplomacy should also conduct an investigation into "who is the friend and who is the enemy", because the current administration has deviated from the previous direction followed during the time of President Trump. As a result, they were able to conclude agreements that "even strengthened countries that support terrorism".
Gergely Gulyás also spoke about the fact that Hungary was one of the first to recognize the state of Israel, which celebrated its 75th anniversary this year. The relationship between the two countries was interrupted during communism, but after the change of regime, it became closer every year, and Hungarians on the right also developed a strong sympathy for Israel.
Israel preserves the most basic human values in extremely difficult circumstances, at the cost of great sacrifices and in the face of constant threats, the minister said. He noted that Central European countries also often undertake serious struggles within the European Union in order to preserve values.
The head of the ministry emphasized: Hungary is very proud to have special relations with the state of Israel, as the largest Jewish community in Central Europe lives in Budapest. And there are about 300,000 Jews of Hungarian origin living in Israel, "for whom we are now especially worried," he added.
Miklós Szánthó, the director general of the Center for Fundamental Rights, emphasized that Hungary is not only Israel's closest ally, but Hungary can become the European center of support for Israel.
The two countries are not only political, but also natural allies, he said. He added: Hungary and Israel are champions of sovereignty. He continued: both countries are willing to go against even international trends when it comes to their sovereignty, their people or the protection of their borders. "We are united by the love of God, our countries and our families. The things that another group, the voke-terrorists, put under fire,” he said.
He also spoke about the fact that the "multicultural-fetishist" left-wing progression has created a new type of anti-Semitism, anti-Israelism, and anti-Zionism.
The same people condemn Israel every day in various forums, who at the same time promote the policy of open borders and invite migrants to Europe, he said. He added: the fight against the new type of anti-Semitism is the same that we are fighting here, to protect the European way of life.
"Today, Hungary is the safest place for Jews in Europe. The strict migration policy and the strict protection of the borders play a huge role in this," emphasized Miklós Szánthó.
Israel's ambassador to Hungary, Yacov Hadas-Handelsman, said they were caught off guard by Saturday's attack, which was "like a combination of September 11 and the Bucsa massacre." Those responsible must pay a similar price, he said, adding that Israel must win the war, which "will not be short."
The ambassador warned that Europe must also be careful, because "this kind of murderous ideology cannot be changed."
"When we see that in Toronto and Berlin they are celebrating the massacre of children, women and civilians and no one stops them, then not only Israel, but the entire international community has a problem," he explained.
Yacov Hadas-Handelsman expressed his gratitude to the Hungarian government because it regularly stands up against Israel's discrimination in international forums and has declared zero tolerance for anti-Semitism.
He also touched on the fact that the Jewish community living in Hungary is safe, they can freely express themselves and live their culture freely, because here Jews do not have to fear attacks like in other big European cities. He added: the Hungarian government also invests significant sums in the renewal of Jewish life in Hungary and the preservation of the graves.
MTI
