Minister of Foreign Affairs Eli Cohen: "Hungary has been a staunch ally of Israel for years. Strengthening the pro-Israel front, together with other countries in Central Europe, is an important political and economic interest of the State of Israel.

I thanked the Foreign Minister of Hungary for his support for Israel before the International Criminal Court (ICC) and for his firm position against the payment of salaries by the Palestinian Authority to Palestinian terrorists who murdered Israelis.

The war in Ukraine has turned Israel into a strategic asset for European countries in the spheres of regional security and energy. We will be happy to stand by European countries and help them deal with the new reality on the continent.”

Minister of Foreign Affairs Eli Cohen today (Wednesday, May 31, 2023) visited Hungary in the framework of his visit to four central European countries: Croatia, Slovakia, Hungary and Austria.

During the visit, FM Cohen met with Hungarian President Katalin Novák and Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs Péter Szijjártó.

In their meeting, the two foreign ministers discussed the Iranian threat to the Middle East and Europe, and the need to take immediate steps against it.

FM Szijjártó raised the issue of the biased attitude of the European Union towards Israel and said that Israel can continue to rely on Hungary regarding its support in international forums, and that Hungary will continue to stand by Israel. FM Szijjártó added that Hungary will support Israel's position against the Palestinian initiative at the International Criminal Court and declared that Hungary opposes the
Palestinian policy of paying salaries to terrorists who murdered Jews.

The ministers discussed the effects of the war in Ukraine and the possibilities of cooperation between Israel and European countries in the field of regional security and energy. They also discussed the promotion of trade and tourism between the countries.

Foreign Ministers Cohen and Szijjártó signed an agreement renewing the scholarships that the Hungarian government grants to Israeli students studying in the country. According to the agreement, each year Hungary will grant 50 scholarships to Israeli students.