President Herzog Welcomed by President Baka of Hungary in Budapest

On October 20, 2026, President Isaac Herzog arrived in Budapest, Hungary, for a day-long visit. At the beginning of his visit, President Herzog was received by President András Baka of Hungary at the Sándor Palace, where the two presidents held a private meeting and wider bilateral meeting. The two presidents then delivered statements to the media.

President Isaac Herzog:

“President Baka, I thank you very much for this warm and gracious reception in your beautiful country. It is an enormous honor and a pleasure for me to be here with you, and to share my warmest congratulations with you on your assumption of the office of president.

“Hungary has long stood out as a nation that has fought hard for freedom. In just a few days, we mark 70 years since the 1956 Hungarian Revolution, when Hungarians tore the symbols of tyranny from their flags and bravely asserted their aspiration for liberty and sovereignty. Ultimately, the Iron Curtain did fall. But it took courage, determination, and faith. This story is a familiar one to us in Israel.

“History has taught both of our nations that freedom and autonomy cannot be taken for granted. And that it is a value that is worth protecting and defending, even at great cost. In Israel, we bear this cost every day, not because we choose war, but because we recognize that protecting freedom is a duty that requires sacrifice.

“In recent years, we have contended with the clear, present, and ongoing threat of terror and extremism emanating from Iran and spread through its network of radical proxies. They may sit in the Middle East, but they threaten the entire world. And the alliance of freedom-loving nations is critical in confronting it.

“Hungary has been a friend and an ally on this long and difficult path. You have been a main actor in the European arena and have played an important role in promoting balanced and constructive relations between Israel and the European Union. At the same time, over the course of this past year, we have seen our strong bilateral alliance deepen considerably.

“Joining hands, we are harnessing the best of our creativity, resourcefulness, and determination toward shaping secure economic and technological futures. Clearly, we have a great deal to learn from one another. And I am greatly looking forward to meeting Prime Minister Magyar during this visit and pursuing the vision of cooperation further.

“The Prime Minister’s election last May was an expression of Hungarian democracy and of the vitality and energy of the Hungarian nation. I congratulate Prime Minister Magyar and wish him great success on the path ahead.

“Mr. President, as we stand here together, looking toward the future, neither of us stands here on our own; we stand with a long history behind us. Jewish communities thrived for centuries in Hungary, making extraordinary contributions to the country’s cultural, scientific, economic, and public life.

“And yet we cannot ignore the dark and terrible depths of this history either. The devastation of Hungarian Jewish communities during the Holocaust, the Shoah, remains a vocal call to all of us in the present. I am very grateful to Hungary for its clear and unequivocal policy of zero tolerance for antisemitism in all of its forms and for ensuring the protection of Jewish life on this soil. This is moral memory guiding us in the present, and it is so very important.”

President András Baka:

“Mr. President, your visit serves an important purpose: strengthening ties with Hungary’s new leadership and participating in the Voice of the People conference, an initiative of yours. We are pleased that Budapest is hosting this event.

“Hungary is a safe place for Jewish people and for visitors of all backgrounds. Hungary condemns antisemitism in all its forms and in the strongest possible terms. We maintain a policy of zero tolerance towards antisemitism and are firmly committed to protecting Jewish communities and ensuring their safety. We consistently stand up for these principles in international forums as well.

“Relations between Hungary and Israel remain cordial and stable. Israel is also an important economic partner, and we intend to continue our pragmatic cooperation in the years ahead.

“Our histories and destinies are intertwined in many ways. Seventy years ago, the Hungarian Revolution and the Suez Crisis unfolded in parallel, shaping the international environment of their time. Today, seven decades later, we face a different set of challenges, but the lessons of history remain relevant. We must never take peace, security, and stability for granted. It is our responsibility to learn from the past and to work towards a safer, more stable, and more peaceful future for the generations to come.

“Mr. President, thank you once again for your visit. You are most welcome in Hungary.”