US Jewish leaders are outraged by Hungarian official’s misrepresentation

US Jewish leaders are outraged that Hungarian Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Levente Magyar incorrectly claimed that they had described recent comments about antisemitism in Hungary as “exaggerated.” The remarks concerning antisemitism in Hungary were actually made by US Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power, who in a speech about global antisemitism referred to recent developments related to the issue in Hungary.

The 29 year old Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Levente Magyar, told the Hungarian News Agency that every single one of his Jewish negotiating partners said they regarded as exaggerated the recent speech by UN Ambassador Samantha Power. This was the speech where she voiced concern about the anti-Semitic tendencies of the Hungarian government. According to Mr. Magyar his negotiating partners were fully aware that such exaggerated assessments are the result of distorted information and statements that are translated badly, probably intentionally.

Mr. Ferenc Kumin, Hungary’s Consul in New York (second left), Mr. Levente Magyar (second right), Mr. György Szabó (far right) Mazsök President with AJC officials.

Mr. Ferenc Kumin, Hungary’s Consul in New York (second left), Mr. Levente Magyar (second right), Mr. György Szabó (far right) Mazsök President with AJC officials.

Ms. Katalin Bogyay, Hungary’s UN Ambassador (far left) with AJC officials.

Ms. Katalin Bogyay, Hungary’s UN Ambassador (far left) with AJC officials.

Here is the official statement of the American Jewish Committee (AJC).

AJC Statement on False Claim in Hungarian Official Media

NEW YORK — Following a meeting in New York this week with AJC and other Jewish organizations, Hungarian State Secretary Levente Magyar claimed that we concurred with his view that U.S. Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power’s remarks about anti-Semitism in Hungary at a recent UN Conference were “exaggerated,” “intentionally mistranslated sentences” based on “distorted information.”

Nothing could be further from the truth.

Ambassador Power correctly described the disturbing developments in Hungary, a country to which we have long attached importance. Anti-Semitism and xenophobia are a serious concern, as has been widely reported. We support Ambassador Power’s remarks and share her criticism of the Hungarian state honor awarded to the journalist Zsolt Bayer, a notorious figure known for his anti-Semitic and anti-Roma invective. We have, in fact, shared our outrage at this act directly with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

SOURCE: American Jewish Committee

There is a long history of organized misinformation about Hungarian antisemitism. In the last couple of years the Orbán Government has used Hungarian diplomats, lobbyists and “court-Jews” to cover up Hungary’s appalling institutionalized antisemitism.

Ambassador Szemerkényi (in white blouse) with AJC officials in June 2015.  In the far left corner Mr. Dániel Bodnár and Mr. Ferenc Olti

Ambassador Szemerkényi (in white blouse) with AJC officials in June 2015. In the far left corner Mr. Dániel Bodnár and Mr. Ferenc Olti

Last June Ambassador Réka Szemerkényi hosted a dinner for AJC delegates in Washington DC. Mr. Dániel Bodnár, Chairman of the Board of the Action and Protection Foundation (TEV), assured the Americans that the Orbán government is relentlessly combating antisemitism. Mr. Ferenc Olti, head of the Jewish Educational working group said his group was pleased with the new textbooks and highlighted that they could serve as a positive example to other countries in the region.

György Lázár

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