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Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán visited Friday the Western Wall of Jerusalem, promising that he would continue his support for Israel.
On the last day of his two-day visit to the countryside, wearing a black hat, Orbán stopped and closed his eyes by touching the imposing ancient structure, considered to be the only one in the world. one of the most sacred sites of Judaism.
He was accompanied around the square by Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz of the Western Wall, who also explained to Orbán a model of the Temple Mount site at the top of the wall.
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The Western Wall Heritage Fund said Friday in a statement that Orbán emphasized the importance of being connected to history and had expressed the wish to return with his family for a further visit of the Kotel.
The visit – Orbán's first in Israel as prime minister – is a sign of the close ties between the controversial Hungarian statehood and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who shares the conservative and anti-immigrant agenda of Orbán.
Under Netanyahu, Israel came closer to the Visegrád group in Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Hungary – four nations known for taking a radical stance on migration issues.
Netanyahu found a common cause with Orbán in launching fierce attacks against asylum seekers and against billionaire philanthropist George Soros, who supports left-wing causes in their two countries.
Orbán was accused of anti-Semitism for campaigning against Soros, who is Jewish, and congratulated Hungarian leader Miklós Horthy, an ally of Adolf Hitler who cooperated with the Nazis.
"In Hungary, there is no tolerance for any anti-Semitic expression: all Jewish and Hungarian citizens are under the protection of the government," Orbán said during his trip.
"You have defended Israel many times in international forums, it is much appreciated and it is important, "Netanyahu told his counterpart, adding that the two leaders" understand that the threat of Islam radical is real. "
The leader of one of the main Israeli opposition parties described the visit as "disgrace" and the protesters briefly prevented the Hungarian leader's convoy from leaving the Yad Vashem memorial in Jerusalem after lit a commemorative candle.
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