Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen will be heading to Europe next week, visiting Hungary, Austria, Croatia, and Slovakia. He will probably meet with Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has supported Israel’s efforts to overhaul its justice system which resembles measures taken by Orban’s Fidesz party after being elected to office in 2010. The dismissal of senior figures in the judiciary connected to Hungary’s Socialist FSZP party was seen as a significant step in forming the current Hungarian regime – criticised as an ‘illiberal democracy.’
Both Orban and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have been in power for well over a decade, and frequently heap praise on each other so that Budapest is now seen as Jerusalem’s staunchest supporter in the European Union. Budapest was the only EU country which did not speak out against Israel’s 2020 plan to take back parts of the Palestinian West Bank and has blocked several efforts to issue statements critical of Israeli policies.
After Netanyahu’s right-religious bloc won parliamentary elections last year, Orban tweeted: “What a great victory for Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel! Hard times require strong leaders. Welcome back!”
Cohen will also use his trip to participate in a meeting of a regional forum of Austria, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
CENTRAL EASTERN EUROPE NEWS
Israel and Hungary Set To Strengthen Allegiance
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