A Friend to Israel, and to Bigots: Viktor Orban’s ‘Double Game’ on Anti-Semitism

5/14/19
BUDAPEST — In late November, the office of Hungary’s far-right prime minister, Viktor Orban, announced it would donate $3.4 million to causes fighting anti-Semitism in Europe. The next day, a magazine controlled by Mr. Orban’s lawyer devoted its cover to an image depicting Andras Heisler, the leader of Hungary’s largest Jewish organization, showered with bank notes. Jewish groups across the world swiftly denounced the cover as anti-Semitic. Mr. Orban refused to criticize the magazine. It was a vivid example of how the Hungarian leader has both opposed and implicitly condoned anti-Semitism — sometimes in the same week. A hero to many far-right nationalists in Europe and the United States, Mr. Orban won a major public relations prize on Monday: an Oval Office meeting with President Trump. The two men gushed over each other. The meeting itself caused controversy, as critics accused Mr. Trump of coddling a neo-authoritarian leader accused of rolling back democracy in the heart of the European Union. Nine Democratic members of Congress had demanded that Mr. Trump cancel the meeting because of Mr. Orban’s record of alleged anti-Semitism, as well as his remarks critical of Muslims. But if anything, Mr. Orban and Mr. Trump have followed the same playbook, with each leader navigating to his own political advantage the confusing and contradictory ways in which anti-Semitism has resurfaced in Europe and North America.

Mr. Orban’s government has sometimes acknowledged Hungarian Holocaust complicity, most notably in 2013. Another example is the attempts to rehabilitate the reputation of Adm. Miklos Horthy, the ruler of Hungary from 1920 to 1944, and other figures of that era. Many Hungarians have a pessimistic view of their country’s contemporary history, having seen defeat in two world wars, occupation by Russian and German troops, and the extensive loss of land and population during the 20th century. Mr. Orban, a staunch nationalist, has sought to paint a more glorious picture, and has concentrated on polishing the reputation of Admiral Horthy’s interwar government, which kept Hungary largely independent of foreign influence but instigated some of the most egregious anti-Jewish laws outside Nazi Germany. Mr. Orban has described Admiral Horthy as an “exceptional statesman.” His government also founded and funded a new research organization, Veritas, to research alternative interpretations of Admiral Horthy’s rule. The group’s director, Sandor Szakaly, has said that the Horthy regime was legally justified in deporting 18,000 Hungarian Jews in 1941 who were later massacred in Ukraine. “I’m convinced that the prime minister himself is not an anti-Semite,” said Rabbi Robert Frolich of Budapest’s Great Synagogue, the largest Jewish temple in Europe. “But our government uses the code language of anti-Semitism and racism to maximize their voter numbers,” Rabbi Frolich added.

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Westphalian said:

Complete and utter rubbish. The 'slave law' claim is complete bull. Nobody is forced to work overtime with no pay for 3 years.

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Rogue Valley said:

A Friend to Israel, and to Bigots: Viktor Orban’s ‘Double Game’ on Anti-Semitism

Viktor Orban's government is accused of silencing media, targeting NGOs and removing independent judges.

The Orban/Fidesz Party attacks against billionaire Jewish philanthropist George Soros were crude and played upon far-right antisemitic sentiment. Trump gushing over Orban is embarrassing.

Orban's government has passed what is commonly called the "slave law". Under this law, Hungarian workers are forced to work overtime, with their overtime pay deferred for three years.

Related: Donald Trump Praises Hungary Leader Viktor Orban's Record On Immigration After Repeated Human Rights Violations

EU Parliament votes to trigger Article 7 sanctions procedure against Hungary

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Westphalian said:

Complete and utter rubbish. The 'slave law' claim is complete bull. Nobody is forced to work overtime with no pay for 3 years.

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If your fake news propaganda was actually true, why does the EU not expel Hungary?

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Such an option is never even considered for one simple reason. Hungary is neither anti-semitic nor a slave economy.

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Budapest is anti Soros - but conflating that with anti semitism is so puerile it's pathetic.

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Westphalian said:

Complete and utter rubbish. The 'slave law' claim is complete bull. Nobody is forced to work overtime with no pay for 3 years~

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Infinite Chaos said:

So why do news agencies from America to the Middle East report that it exists and that it allows employers to demand up to 400 hours overtime and delay pay for up to 3 years?

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Chagos said:

It looks like even some (thousands) Hungarians would deem Westfailian to be lying (again).

Their protest rally in January wasn't exactly about Gulyas being rationed.:roll:

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