On a diplomatic mission to Budapest, Samaria Governor Yossi Dagan won assurances of support from Hungarian officials against EU sanctions, Palestinian statehood moves, and in favor of extending Israeli sovereignty over Judea and Samaria.
Samaria Governor Yossi Dagan concluded a two-day visit to Budapest, where he held high-level meetings with Hungarian officials in a bid to shore up European opposition to Palestinian statehood and prevent EU sanctions targeting Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria.
Historic Meeting at Orbán’s Office
Dagan met with Hungary’s Foreign Minister and was later received by Secretary of State Miklós Soltész at the Prime Minister’s Office — the first time a head of a Judea and Samaria authority has been invited to such a formal EU-level meeting. Soltész oversees relations with religious communities under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s government.
Hungary’s veto power within the EU makes the meeting especially significant, as French President Emmanuel Macron and other European leaders push ahead with plans to recognize a Palestinian state.
Sovereignty Push and Security Arguments
Backed by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and Ambassador Maya Kadosh, Dagan presented a relief map of Israel and stressed the security centrality of Samaria, especially in the aftermath of the October 7 massacre.
He argued that Judea and Samaria are not only biblically central to Jewish history but also vital to Israel’s defense, warning that a Palestinian state in the region would “place a terror entity in Israel’s heartland.”
Dagan also urged Hungary to block sanction initiatives targeting Israel and to support the extension of Israeli sovereignty to Judea and Samaria. He presented Soltész with the Samaria Medal as a gesture of appreciation.
Hungary’s Pledge of Solidarity
Soltész responded warmly:
“Hungary will always be a friend of Israel and of the people of Israel. We commend those in Judea and Samaria who fight day by day for their faith, nation, and community. We share the same roots, the same values, and we stand in solidarity in these difficult times.”
Dagan: Hungary Sets the Example
Dagan hailed the meetings as a diplomatic breakthrough:
“Hungary is showing the world it is possible to stand with Israel even in difficult times and not yield to pressure to establish a Palestinian state. This courageous leadership strengthens our call for full Israeli sovereignty in Judea and Samaria—not just for settlers, but for Israel’s security and future. Samaria is the heart of the country, historically and strategically, and we expect other European nations to follow Hungary’s example.”
