KANAL24.AZ
Az Iw En Ru

Netanyahu welcomed by Hungarian prime minister on state visit amid controversy

Two leaders will sign a bilateral cultural agreement and a deceleration of intent to cooperate on technology

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was greeted by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Hungary on Tuesday.

The two leaders will sign a bilateral cultural agreement and a deceleration of intent to cooperate on technology and innovation.

The cultural agreement will allow join-funding for cultural events as dozens of Israeli performances happen in Hungary every year. The agreement will allow more Israeli musicians, artists and performers to travel to Hungary.

The Israeli Innovation authority will work with its Hungarian counterpart to promote cooperation in the private sector between the two countries with an emphasis on high-tech, self-driving cars and other new technological developments.

Netanyahu arrived in Hungary for a state visit late Monday, as its capital city remained blanketed in swastika-graffitied posters of Hungarian-born Jewish philanthropist George Soros.

It is the first visit to Hungary by an Israeli prime minister since the fall of Communism in 1989.

Preparations for the trip has been affected by the posters, which many in the Hungarian Jewish community see as fostering anti-Semitic animus and vandalism.

Orban, has made political cause with the far-right and often expresses admiration for the country's wartime fascist leader, Miklos Horthy.

Last week, Hungarian officials announced that the posters would be taken down by the weekend. The billboards heralded a campaign against Soros for his pro-refugee and pro-immigrant stance.

The posters were being removed in order not to embarrass Netanyahu, Hungarian media reported.

Yet according to the Times of Israel, at least half-dozen prominently displayed billboards stayed up in the capital city. Hungarian officials said the advertisements would stay up until the advertising space was purchased by another entity.


21:15 18.07.2017