THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: Hungary's prime minister has told an international assembly of Jews that anti-Semitism was on the rise both in Europe and Hungary, attributing it partly to the economic crisis affecting the region.
Viktor Orban said that his government has declared "zero tolerance" on anti-Semitism, but his speech failed to impress those gathered who said he has failed to confront the country's largest far-right party.
"Anti-Semitism is unacceptable and cannot be tolerated," Mr Orban told some 600 delegates at the World Jewish Congress meeting, adding that it was his government's "moral duty to declare zero tolerance on anti-Semitism."
While delegates applauded some parts of Mr Orban's speech on Sunday, the WJC was also quick to express its disappointment that he had not specifically talked about the country's third biggest political force, the far-right Jobbik party, whose politicians in parliament have made numerous anti-Semitic statements.
"The prime minister did not confront the true nature of the problem - the threat posed by the anti-Semites in general and by the extreme-right Jobbik party in particular," the WJC said in a statement. "We regret that Mr Orban did not address any recent anti-Semitic or racist incidents in the country, nor did he provide sufficient reassurance that a clear line has been drawn between his government and the far-right fringe." » | Edited by Bonnie Malkin | Sunday, May 05, 2013
SPIEGEL ONLINE INTERNATIONAL: Missing the Point: Hungarian Leader Whitewashes Anti-Semitism – Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán sought this weekend to convince some 500 Jewish leaders gathered in Budapest that his government is committed to combating a frightening increase in anti-Semitism. His speech, however, was notable more for what it left out than what it said. » | James Kirchick in Budapest | Monday, May 06, 2013
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