President Herzog to Hold Talks with Hungarian Prime Minister Magyar
President Isaac Herzog will meet Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar in Budapest next week to discuss bilateral ties, European relations, and upcoming elections.
President Herzog to Meet Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar in Budapest
President Isaac Herzog is scheduled to meet next week with Hungary's Prime Minister Péter Magyar in Budapest. This will be the first high-level meeting between an Israeli official and Magyar since he assumed office, following the departure of former longtime leader Viktor Orbán in April.
The meeting will take place during President Herzog's visit to the Hungarian capital, where he is attending the Voice of the People conference, a global gathering of Jewish leaders aimed at addressing challenges facing the Jewish community worldwide. According to officials familiar with the matter, the talks will focus on bilateral relations in the post-Orbán era, ties between Israel and Europe, and the upcoming 26th Knesset elections.
Shifts in Bilateral Dynamics and International Law
Since taking office, Prime Minister Magyar has reversed several key policies enacted by his predecessor. Notably, Magyar halted Orbán's previous decision to withdraw Hungary from the International Criminal Court, a move initially made in solidarity with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following an arrest warrant issued against him.
By keeping Hungary within the ICC, the country remains legally obligated to execute international arrest warrants should a subject enter its territory. Nevertheless, Magyar has extended an invitation to Netanyahu for an official visit and emphasized his desire to maintain close diplomatic ties between Budapest and Jerusalem.
Background and Future Engagement
In an interview discussing upcoming national commemorations, Magyar noted that numerous international leaders are expected to attend, though he confirmed that Netanyahu has not yet indicated participation, while confirming Herzog's impending visit.
Back in April, President Herzog congratulated Magyar on his electoral victory, expressing optimism regarding the deepening of historic ties between Israel and Hungary. At the same time, Herzog acknowledged Orbán's long-standing support for Israel during his nearly two decades in office.
