On 29 September 2020, State Secretary for Security Policy Péter Sztáray took part in a virtual meeting with leaders of American and international Jewish organisations. The event is traditionally held on the sidelines of the high-level week of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. In view of the pandemic situation, this year’s meeting was held in online form.
The organisations taking part in the meeting included the World Jewish Congress (WJC), the American Jewish Committee (AJC), the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), the World Jewish Restitution Organization (WJRO), the B’nai B’rith International, and the National Coalition Supporting Eurasian Jewry (NCSEJ). The main topics of discussion included the Middle Eastern settlement, the Abraham Accords, the situation of Israel, and issue relating to the Hungarian Jewish community.
All of the organisations involved praised and thanked Hungary for its consistent role with relation to the Middle Eastern settlement. They spoke with acknowledgement about the balanced manner in which Hungary has represented its position at international forums (EU, UN) with the aim of facilitating settlement, concerning Hungarian government funding towards the renovation of Hungarian synagogues, particularly highlighting the renovation of the Rumbach Sebestyén Street Synagogue, and with relation to the religious and cultural freedom of Hungary’s Jews.
The State Secretary confirmed that the Government of Hungary will continue to stand up in a consistent manner in support of efforts to facilitate the Middle Eastern settlement, and measures that support Hungarian Jewish communities, in future. He emphasised that Israel can count on Hungary’s balanced position, and the fact that Hungary will continue to refrain from supporting any statements that condemn the State of Israel in both the European Union and the United Nations in future. There is continuous government dialogue with Hungarian Jewish communities, which in contrast to the unfortunate incidents in Western Europe, are able to live and practice their identity in peace and security in Hungary during the course of their everyday lives. The parties agreed on the need to continue this dialogue.