Hungary vows zero tolerance of anti-semitism at Jewish congress
BUDAPEST: The World Jewish Congress ( WJC) opened in Budapest Sunday with hundreds of representatives of worldwide Jewish communities in attendance, even as Hungary has come under fire for rising anti- Semitism.
In a speech to some 500 delegates attending the meeting, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has been accused of turning a blind eye to recent racist incidents, insisted that anti- Semitism was “unacceptable and intolerable”.
“Hungary has a moral duty to have zero tolerance of antiSemitism,” he added.
“There is no freedom without human dignity, we won’t tolerate anyone offending the dignity of any ethnic or religious community,” he also said, noting that the new constitution introduced last year provided protection and dignity for all minorities in Hungary.
The WJC reacted critically however to Orban’s comments, expressing “regret” that he did not address recent incidents.
“Nor did he provide sufficient reassurance that a clear line has been drawn between the government and the far- right fringe,” it said in a statement following Orban’s speech.
“Actions speak louder than words, no matter how well intended they are,” it added.
Anti- Semitism in Hungary has been on the rise in recent years, and the WJC meeting was taking place amid tight security. — AFP