​Communicated by the Prime Minister's Media Adviser)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto, today (Tuesday, 19 March 2019), participated in the dedication ceremony for the Hungarian diplomatic trade mission in Jerusalem. They toured the facility, cut the ribbon at the entrance and jointly unveiled the plaque.

The Hungarian diplomatic trade mission in Jerusalem will be a branch of the Hungarian Embassy in Israel as per the statement of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban last month that a diplomatic mission would be opened in Jerusalem.

Prime Minister Netanyahu:

"This is a very exciting moment for us because it's the first European diplomatic mission opened in Jerusalem in many decades and three Hungarian diplomats are going to be assigned to this office for trade purposes. That's important for trade, for diplomacy and for the move that Hungary is leading right now to change the attitude in Europe towards Jerusalem.

This has already been done by President Trump in his historic decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and to move the American embassy here. And there's a plot waiting for you right next to the American embassy.

Only four weeks ago Prime Minister Orbán was here and he said that he would open this office and in four weeks this office is opened. I want to extend my appreciation and thanks to him and to you and to say that we're delighted with the relationship, the friendship, between Israel and Hungary. It has never been as strong. Our trade has never been stronger. Our cooperation in all areas: Security, diplomacy, everything has never been stronger.

I want to extend special thanks for two things that the government of Hungary is doing. One, the battle against the falsehoods and slanders leveled at Israel in international forums. You've been superb and I want to congratulate and salute you for it. The second is your stance against antisemitism which has been robust and important and consistent. I want to encourage you to continue this with the adoption of the IHRA definition of antisemitism.

Let's continue this because this is a path of real friendship. So welcome friend."

Hungarian Foreign Minister Szijjarto:

"We have always fought for a fair and balanced approach on behalf of the international community towards Israel. I have to underline here once again that we reject to combine restrictive economic and commercial measures with political issues.

We will not apply the decision of the European Commission on labeling. We do not support the list of companies in the settlements to be announced by the high representative of Human Rights of the United Nations and we urge for a tighter, better and more dynamic cooperation between Israel and the European Union."

Also attending the ceremony were US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman, US Ambassador to Hungary David Cornstein, Hungarian Ambassador to Israel Levente Benko, Czech Ambassador to Israel Martin Stropnicky and Israeli Ambassador to Hungary Yossi Amrani.