Viktor Orbán said Jewish communities are "safer in Budapest than anywhere else in Europe," a claim echoed by Israel's Amichai Chikli after Hungary stepped in to host a Zionist youth congress that Basel declined. The ADL's 2024–2025 report documents a sharp rise in antisemitic harassment, vandalism and assaults across Europe since Oct. 7, 2023. Hungary hosts 80,000–100,000 Jews—mostly in Budapest—but leaders remain divided between praise for cultural support and concern about nationalist rhetoric and contested historical memory.
Orbán Says Budapest Is Europe’s Safest City For Jews — ADL Warns Antisemitism Is Rising Across Continent
Hungary's Orbán says Budapest is Europe’s safest city for Jews as antisemitism surges
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán this week asserted that Jewish communities are "safer in Budapest than anywhere else in Europe," a claim he linked to his government's hard line on antisemitism and immigration. His statement comes as the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) documents a marked increase in antisemitic incidents across Europe in a 2024–2025 analysis.
What Orbán And Supporters Say
Orbán posted on X that "Jewish communities are safer in Budapest than anywhere else in Europe. Zero tolerance for antisemitism, no hate crimes, no violent migrants. This is how a modern European capital ought to be."
"Jewish communities are safer in Budapest than anywhere else in Europe. Zero tolerance for antisemitism, no hate crimes, no violent migrants." — Viktor Orbán on X
Israel's Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli publicly backed Orbán, praising Budapest as "one of the safest and most welcoming European capitals for its Jewish community and for Israeli citizens alike." Chikli noted that Hungary agreed to host a Zionist youth congress of roughly 200 participants after Swiss authorities in Basel declined to do so, and that a senior Hungarian minister addressed the event.
ADL Findings And Broader Context
The ADL's 2024–2025 report, "Take Action: Antisemitism Is Escalating in Europe," documents rising antisemitic harassment, vandalism, threats and physical attacks in multiple countries, with notable spikes following the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel and the war in Gaza. The organization reports increases in France, Germany and the United Kingdom, among other countries, and warns that many Jewish people now feel unsafe wearing visible religious symbols in public.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán (L) receives Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on April 3, 2025 in Budapest, Hungary.
The ADL also highlights how antisemitic narratives have spread across political spectrums and online platforms, increasing pressure on community security budgets and forcing Jewish institutions to adopt heightened protective measures.
Hungary's Jewish Community And Historical Background
Hungary is home to the largest Jewish community in Central Europe, with estimates between 80,000 and 100,000 people, most living in Budapest. Jewish leaders in Hungary offer mixed assessments of the government: some praise investments in synagogue restorations, Holocaust memorials and cultural programs and note close diplomatic ties with Israel; others express concern over nationalist rhetoric and disputes about historical memory.
Before World War II, Hungary's Jewish population was among Europe's largest, about 825,000. After the German occupation in March 1944, Hungarian and Nazi authorities deported roughly 430,000–440,000 Jews to Auschwitz within weeks; most were murdered on arrival. Historians estimate about 564,000 Hungarian Jews were killed during the Holocaust.
Responses, Criticism And What Comes Next
Orbán's government rejects accusations of domestic antisemitism and points to diplomatic ties with Israel and public opposition to antisemitic violence. Critics, however, say praise for Budapest's safety does not erase concerns about nationalist language or about how the country addresses Holocaust-era responsibilities — issues that, they argue, can contribute to exclusionary sentiments.
Experts and community leaders emphasize that protecting Jewish life in Europe requires coordinated government action, stronger law enforcement responses to hate crimes, improved security at institutions and efforts to counter antisemitic rhetoric online and in public discourse. The ADL calls for concrete policy measures to reverse the trend and better protect Jewish communities continent-wide.
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