Levente Benkő

Fmr. Ambassador of Hungary in Israel

[JD Vance @JDVance]

Any Ukraine-Russia peace plan has to:

1) Stop the killing while preserving Ukrainian sovereignty.
2) Be acceptable to both Russia and Ukraine.
3) Maximize the chances the war doesn't restart.

Every criticism of the peace framework the administration is working on either misunderstands the framework or misstates some critical reality on the ground.

There is a fantasy that if we just give more money, more weapons, or more sanctions, victory is at hand. Peace won't be made by failed diplomats or politicians living in a fantasy land. It might be made by smart people living in the real world.

[Bóka János @JanosBoka_HU]

#Peace will be achieved only through dialogue — and that is why #Hungary continues to support @realDonaldTrump‘s peace initiative.

Since the beginning of the #RussiaUkraineWar, Hungary's stance has been that the conflict can only be brought to an end through dialogue and diplomacy. Ending the war requires an immediate and unconditional ceasefire and meaningful peace negotiations. In this process, the #EU must open diplomatic channels to all parties and directly represent its interests in every direction. Once again, time has proven us right.

We welcome the efforts of President Donald Trump, whose primary goal is to end the war and achieve a just and lasting peace. His initiative is currently the only one that has a real chance of success.

The European Union should support President Trump’s efforts without conditions or reservations, and — following the example of the US negotiations — it should itself initiate direct dialogue with #Russia on the full spectrum of our economic and political relations. No one else will represent our strategic interests in this process.

We do not agree with the document issued today by the @eucopresident on behalf of certain EU heads of state and government. The EU was not even invited to the US–Russia talks as an observer. That, in itself, is sad enough. But it is even more regrettable that the EU is setting conditions and expectations from the sidelines concerning a meeting to which it has not been invited. This will remain the case until the EU becomes an independent actor — until it formulates and represents its strategic interests on its own. If the #UnitedStates is willing to engage in direct talks with Russia, what is the EU waiting for? What is the EU’s objective, other than to derail the US–Russia negotiations and keep the war going indefinitely without realistic peace objectives?

We disagree with the position that #Ukraine should be admitted to the European Union as soon as possible. We disagree with the idea of outsourcing #EUdefence capacities to Ukraine. We disagree with the EU’s policy vis-a-vis Russia being determined by Ukraine instead of us.

It is precisely due to such flawed decisions that the EU has been relegated to the sidelines of global politics. Our interest is not to bring the war into the EU, but to achieve a ceasefire and peace, and to begin shaping a new European security architecture.

[Zoltan Kovacs @zoltanspox]

🛑 Hungary’s government has moved to ban @KneecapCEOL from entering the country and performing at @szigetofficial—citing antisemitic hate speech and open praise for Hamas and Hezbollah as justification.

⚠️ The official message: “zero tolerance for antisemitism” and a duty to protect Hungarian – especially Jewish – communities. The government insists that festival organizers must ensure compliance with Hungarian law and morally sound programming.

🎯 The real issue: this isn’t just protest – it’s support for terror, celebration of extremist violence and a clear anti‑Semitic statement. Granting them a stage normalizes hate and terror, and puts democratic values on the line.

[Zoltan Kovacs @zoltanspox]

🚫 @KneecapCEOL are officially banned from entering Hungary—for antisemitism and glorifying terror. When hate ignores the mail, we put it on a wall.

📢 This is what we call "service by public notice." In plain English: if you won’t read the letter, you’ll see it on the poster.

[Philip Pilkington @philippilk]

Fascinating discussion with @davidpgoldman and I on the shores of Lake Balaton earlier this summer about all the big global changes taking place. Link to full panel in the comment below. 👇

[Gadi Taub שומר סף @GadiTaub1]

https://t.co/apoQfkObD4

[Gadi Taub שומר סף @GadiTaub1]

Hungary matters.

There’s great irony in the fact that the woke left has labeled @PM_ViktorOrban the anti-democratic bogeyman. Their reason is not hard to discern: it was Orban who most clearly exposed their own anti-democratic tendencies.

Orban was among the first politicians to recognize that democracy is being undermined by elites who claim to speak in the name of liberalism. Hence his rather unfortunate (and inaccurate) phrase “illiberal democracy.”

Behind it, though, lies a crucial insight: if democracy is to be saved, it must resist the strategy of contemporary Western elites who impose progressive values—always under the banner of liberalism—from above, while bypassing the lingering inconvenience of seeking the consent of the governed.

Orban realized, and was not shy about proclaiming, that saving democracy requires fighting this non-democratic and anti-democratic form of progressivism.

In this piece, I explore the unique circumstances of post-communist Hungary, which revealed to Orban early on what other Western democratic leaders took decades to grasp. Hungarians didn’t call it the “Deep State,” but the dynamic was similar. On the one hand, the peaceful transition from communism, though non-violent, left much unchanged. On the other, the EU’s influence played a significant role in undermining democratic state sovereignty.

And I can sum it all up in three words: read John Fonte. My latest on @tabletmag (link below in the comments).

[Orbán Viktor @PM_ViktorOrban]

✡️ Our Jewish community is safer in Hungary than anywhere else in Europe. Mass migration has fuelled the rise of anti-Semitism across the West, where leaders turn a blind eye to its consequences. The failures of Western Europe will not be allowed to repeat here. Unwavering in our fight against anti-Semitism, we remain resolute in defending Judeo-Christian values.

[Orbán Viktor @PM_ViktorOrban]

���🇺🇮🇱 Prime Minister @netanyahu in Budapest, the safest place in Europe. Welcome to Hungary, Prime Minister!

[Zoltan Kovacs @zoltanspox]

‼️ BREAKING: Hungary to exit the International Criminal Court. Minister Gergely Gulyás announced that the government has decided to withdraw from the ICC.

⚖️ The withdrawal process will begin on Thursday, in line with Hungary’s constitutional and international legal obligations.

[Gideon Sa'ar | גדעון סער @gidonsaar]

I commend Hungary's important decision to withdraw from the ICC. FM Péter Szijjártó and I dealt with this matter extensively. The so-called "International Criminal Court" lost its moral authority after trampling the fundamental principles of international law in its zest for harming Israel's right to self-defense. Thank you, @PM_ViktorOrban and thank you Hungary for your clear and strong moral stance alongside Israel and the principles of justice and sovereignty! 🇮🇱🇭🇺

[The Jerusalem Post @Jerusalem_Post]

Prime Minister Netanyahu is set to travel to Hungary on Wednesday and return on Sunday morning.

https://t.co/yvko9Zjdjq

[Maya Kadosh @MayaKadosh]

A special and personal moment as I receive my letter of credence from FM @gidonsaar before heading to Budapest as Israel’s Ambassador to Hungary. After an intense and rewarding time as his Chief of Staff, I am honored to continue serving Israel and strengthening our ties with Hungary. Excited for the journey ahead! 🇮🇱🇭🇺

[Maya Kadosh @MayaKadosh]

Honored to be appointed as Israel’s Ambassador to Hungary @IsraelinHungary Looking forward to strengthening the close ties between our countries and deepening our cooperation in various fields. Excited for the journey ahead!
🇮🇱 🇭🇺
Photo credit : Shalev Man

[Gideon Sa'ar | גדעון סער @gidonsaar]

Thank you Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó for your gracious hospitality in Budapest. Hungary, under Prime Minister Orbán's leadership, clearly distinguishes between good and bad, with no moral distortion. Israel and Hungary share a close alliance of two proud, free and sovereign nations.
We discussed our common opportunities and challenges. We spoke about the dual Israeli-Hungarian citizen Omri Miran, being held in Hamas captivity.
I thanked my counterpart for his unwavering support of Israel and for standing against the politicized and corrupt ICC arrest warrants. I invited Minister Szijjártó to soon visit Israel and reiterared my commitment to further strengthening our unbreakable alliance. 🇮🇱🇭🇺

[Gideon Sa'ar | גדעון סער @gidonsaar]

I was pleased to meet with the Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Péter Szijjártó.
We discussed enhancing collaboration between our countries and strengthening even further the excellent relations between our both states.
I also said to my Hungarian counterpart that the situation in Lebanon offers a chance for the international community to assist in the effort to weaken Hezbollah and improve the prospects for a better future for the Lebanese people.

[Levente Benkő @LeventeBenk1]

RT @LahavHarkov: Orban sent Netanyahu a letter of support after the ICC issued a warrant for Netanyahu’s arrest yesterday https://t.co/pw63…

[עמיחי שיקלי - Amichai Chikli @AmichaiChikli]

How quick some are to disparage Hungary under the leadership of Orbán, which time and again, even when standing alone against all European countries, stands firmly by Israel’s side.

How quick some are to belittle the “far-right” and “populist” Javier Milei, who fights tirelessly for the State of Israel in every possible forum.

And now, the moment of truth arrives, and we see that these are precisely the leaders who stand with us in our time of need.

I wish to express my gratitude to the President of Argentina, Javier Milei, for his statement that Argentina deeply disagrees with the recent decision, which distorts the spirit of international justice, and to Péter Szijjártó, the Hungarian Foreign Minister, for opposing the disgraceful and absurd decision of the International Court.

Cooperating with true friends and promoting our mutual values and interests is a great privilege.

@JMilei 🇦🇷
@PM_ViktorOrban 🇭🇺

[Zoltan Kovacs @zoltanspox]

❗️FM Szijjártó strongly criticized the International Criminal Court's arrest warrant issued against @netanyahu and @yoavgallant, calling it "shameful and absurd." Speaking after a phone call with Israel’s Foreign Minister @gidonsaar, FM Szijjártó reaffirmed Hungary’s rejection of using international judicial systems for political purposes.

💬 "This decision disgraces the international judiciary by equating leaders of a country attacked by a heinous terror attack with the leaders of the terrorist organization responsible," he stated. "Such a decision is unacceptable."

🇮🇱🤝🇭🇺 Hungary stands firmly with Israel, condemning any attempt to politicize international institutions, FM Szijjártó emphasized, highlighting the importance of impartiality and justice in global systems.

[Avi Nir-Feldklein @avraham_nir]

Thank you Foreign Minister Szijjarto for the very clear words about the shameful and absurd decision of the ICC.