US/World News

Hungarian lawmaker calls for Jews to be listed as security threats

A Hungarian lawmaker from the far-right Jobbik party has called for Jews to be registered on lists as threats to national security. Despite international outrage at the Nazi-style request, lawmaker Marton Gyongyosi has refused to resign, claiming his words were taken out of context and that he was only speaking about Hungarian citizens who also hold Israeli passports. In response to the incident, hundreds of protestors gathered outside parliament, some wearing the yellow stars similar to the ones Jews were forced to wear during the Holocaust. Many yelled “Nazis go home” at Jobbik members, according to Reuters. The conflict erupted following Israel’s recent conflict with Hamas in Gaza. Gyongyosi spoke in the Hungarian parliament, saying “I think such a conflict makes it timely to tally up people of Jewish ancestry who live here, especially in the Hungarian parliament and the Hungarian government, who, indeed, pose a national security risk to Hungary.” The Simon Wiesenthal Center in Jerusalem called the remarks “a sad commentary on the current rise of antisemitism in Hungary.” “This is the shame of Europe, the shame of the world,” said Gusztav Zoltai, a Holocaust survivor and the executive director of the Hungarian Jewish Congregations’ Association.

 

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