Hungarian EU minister: We will lose our European identity if we lose our Jewish communities

Hungary’s European Union Affairs Minister, Dr. János Bóka, laid out his view of Europe’s relations with the Jewish people and Israel in an interview with The Jerusalem Post, after leading the Hungarian presidency of the EU for the last six months.

Bóka, who unexpectedly discovered that he is a descendant of Jewish Holocaust survivors, was given the sensitive task of coordinating the EU's efforts to combat antisemitism. This comes at a critical time, as he represents one of the rare European countries to offer Israel full-throated support in recent months, despite the ICC issuing arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

The Hungarian minister told journalist Eldad Beck that the wave of antisemitism following Hamas’ Oct. 7 invasion last year is posing an existential threat to Jewish life on the continent.

“The new and reinforced antisemitism in some parts of Europe, which is connected to the ongoing demographic and social changes in Western Europe, creates a new challenge and I would even say a new threat to the security of Jewish communities,” Bóka said.

He also noted that the nature of antisemitism “is constantly changing. The fundamental notion of antisemitism is looking for new and more contemporary hosts on which it can exist and from which it can spread. The latest are anti-Zionism and anti-Israelism.”

When asked about practical ways to fight antisemitism apart from political declarations, Bóka emphasized his country’s approach of actively supporting Jewish life in Europe, which was expressed in the EU Council’s adoption of a declaration on “fostering Jewish life and fighting against antisemitism.”

“My proposal is to put Jewish communities in the focus of our activities. They are the reason we are engaged in all these activities.”

Bóka stressed: “The best way to combat antisemitism in Europe is to make sure that the Jewish communities prosper, flourish, and feel welcome."

When asked whether the recent wave of antisemitism is masking “an intifada against the West,” he replied: “If we lose our Jewish communities, we will lose our European identity. Europe will no longer be Europe.”

“By creating such a situation, those behind the attacks make it easier to dismantle European civilization and identity step-by-step, brick by brick,” Bóka added.

Therefore, Bóka said, Hungary led the effort to adopt the resolution declaring that “our responsibility lies first and foremost with our Jewish communities in Europe. These communities are part of our European heritage… I believe that we need to make these Jewish communities feel welcome in Europe."

“By strengthening these communities and making them prosperous, we also combat antisemitism. The best way to combat antisemitism is to work on fostering Jewish life in Europe.”

Speaking about the weaponization of international law against Israel, Bóka noted, “This undermines international law and international institutions. In the long term, it will be counterproductive because at a time when these legal instruments and institutions will be really needed, they will no longer have the international legitimacy and support they need.”

Looking to the future of EU-Israel relations, which deteriorated under the leadership of outgoing EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell, Bóka said he is “cautiously optimistic” relations will normalize again.

In September, former Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas was named Borrell's successor. In recent public statements, Kallas has been far more sympathetic towards Israel.