Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu met Hungarian foundation leader Kálmán Szalai, endorsing advanced monitoring tools to combat Europe’s skyrocketing antisemitism amid the Gaza war.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Wednesday in Jerusalem with Kálmán Szalai, President of Hungary’s Action and Protection Foundation (TEV), a leading European watchdog tracking and combating antisemitism.
Szalai unveiled TEV’s cutting-edge monitoring system, which identifies antisemitic content across social media platforms and alerts authorities. He stressed that much of the online hatred not only demonizes Jews but also delegitimizes Israel or excuses Hamas terrorism. Already deployed in Germany and Austria, the system is slated to expand across the EU within the coming year.
Alongside its monitoring, TEV provides a comprehensive support program for victims of antisemitism, offering legal aid, psychological counseling, and security assistance. “The drastic rise in hate crimes requires institutional protection,” Szalai warned.
Netanyahu praised the initiative, emphasizing that antisemitism abroad directly affects Israel’s security: “Antisemitic hatred, both online and offline, threatens Jewish communities worldwide and undermines Israel’s legitimacy.”
The meeting highlighted deepening Israel-Hungary ties, coming less than a year after Netanyahu’s warmly received state visit to Budapest, where he lauded Hungary as one of the safest countries for Jews. Hungarian Jewish leaders said the encounter showed Israel’s resolve to fight antisemitism even while waging war against Hamas.
Szalai recalled TEV’s founding in 2012 by Hungary’s Association of Jewish Communities (EMIH) under Chief Rabbi Shlomo Köves. Today, it works closely with Hungary’s government and enjoys broad support across Jewish denominations, including Reform congregations.
Alarming Data from TEV
Fresh statistics presented to Netanyahu underscored a disturbing trend:
- Germany: 1,957 antisemitic incidents in 2020 surged to 4,886 in 2023. By 2024, amid the Gaza war, online antisemitic expressions nearly doubled again to 8,627. A quarter were explicitly anti-Israel.
- United Kingdom: From 1,662 incidents in 2020 to 4,106 in 2023 — a 107% increase. Of these, 1,774 cases (43%) were linked to Israel and the Gaza conflict.
- Hungary: Despite being one of Europe’s safest places for Jews, incidents rose from 45 in 2022 to 128 in 2023 after October 7. In 2024, the number spiked to 664, with over half classified as anti-Israel hate crimes.
Szalai also discussed TEV’s education initiatives, warning of distorted international media coverage of Israel’s counterterror operations. He cited the foundation’s flagship “50 Minutes” program on Neshama TV, which reaches two million Hungarian households, and its support for Israeli documentary projects.
Netanyahu concluded by urging that TEV’s model be replicated globally to stem the rising tide of antisemitism: “The fight against Jew-hatred is the fight for Israel’s security and the integrity of truth itself.”
