Hungary has repeatedly used its EU veto to block sanctions on Israel; if opposition leader Péter Magyar wins and aligns with Brussels to unlock billions in funding, Jerusalem could lose its last line of defense in the bloc
According to all polls, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is expected to lose Sunday’s election to his rival Péter Magyar, a development that would deal a significant blow to Israel. While Israel would lose one of its closest allies, it would not necessarily lose Hungary altogether.
In Israel, officials are closely watching the race. Orbán is fighting a defensive campaign, and a victory for him would defy expectations. Magyar’s Tisza party has been deploying activists in an effort to disrupt Orbán’s campaign rallies, a tactic previously uncommon in Hungary.
