Israel backing anti-Soros campaign disappointing - Jewish leader

Record ID: 903306

  • Title: Israel backing anti-Soros campaign disappointing - Jewish leader
  • Date: 19th July 2017
  • Summary: BUDAPEST, HUNGARY (JULY 19, 2017) (REUTERS) **** WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY **** HELICOPTER FLYING OVER SYNAGOGUE SECURITY MEN AND MEDIA BY HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL IN SYNAGOGUE COURTYARD ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU WALKING WITH HIS WIFE TO HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL FOLLOWED BY HUNGARIAN PRIME MINISTER VIKTOR ORBAN AND HIS WIFE NETANYAHU LOOKING AT MEMORIAL DETAIL OF MEMORIAL WITH SILVER LEAVES OF HOLOCAUST VICTIMS' NAMES NETANYAHU AND HIS WIFE LOOKING AT MEMORIAL NETANYAHU AND CHAIRMAN OF FEDERATION OF HUNGARIAN JEWISH FEDERATIONS, ANDRAS HEISLER, WALKING AWAY AUDIENCE LOOKING AND TAKING PICTURES CHAIRMAN OF THE FEDERATION OF HUNGARIAN JEWISH FEDERATIONS, ANDRAS HEISLER, SPEAKING (SOUNDBITE) (Hungarian) CHAIRMAN OF THE FEDERATION OF HUNGARIAN JEWISH FEDERATIONS, ANDRAS HEISLER SAYING: "Today in Hungary, a total propaganda campaign could be launched whose language and visuals have raised bad feelings in us, Jews. One can debate about the intentions of the campaign but for me, it has become completely unacceptable for one thing: the Jews in Hungary started to be afraid again. And this is such a phenomenon which a responsible Jewish leader or a responsible head of state cannot be silent about." PEOPLE LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (Hungarian) CHAIRMAN OF THE FEDERATION OF HUNGARIAN JEWISH FEDERATIONS, ANDRAS HEISLER SAYING: "We would like to be proud Hungarian Jews in a country where nobody's picture can tainted by a graffiti saying 'Dirty Jew'. The majority of Jews in Hungary want to continue to live here but without fear." PEOPLE LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (Hungarian) CHAIRMAN OF THE FEDERATION OF HUNGARIAN JEWISH FEDERATIONS, ANDRAS HEISLER SAYING: "The opinion of the Israeli foreign minister about the Hungarian poster campaign came as cold shower for our community, let's say it honestly. After the honourable ambassador stood up for us, this statement caused us pain. With this, I do not want to talk about the past but about the future of our community because it is about the honour of our community which will always act like a catalyst in the relationship between the two countries. I ask you respectfully, Mr Prime Minister Netanyahu: help to have a greater appreciation of the Diaspora. Only a strong Diaspora can help Israel and we do want to help Israel." PEOPLE CLAPPING HUNGARIAN PRIME MINISTER VIKTOR ORBAN SPEAKING (SOUNDBITE) (Hungarian) HUNGARIAN PRIME MINISTER, VIKTOR ORBAN, SAYING: "I am proud that today Jewish life is having its Renaissance, even if - as I can hear - at the price of struggles." MAN TAKING PICTURE OF ORBAN WITH MOBILE PHONE ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU SPEAKING (SOUNDBITE) (English) ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER, BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, SAYING: "You spoke yesterday very strongly against anti-Semitism in Hungary, you spoke about it in its current forms and you spoke about it also in its previous forms. The 'sins' as you said performed by previous governments, you were very open about it, including in our conversation. I think this is important, I think this is something that the world has heard and it is very clear to me that this is something that the world should hear continuously." PEOPLE CLAPPING AND STANDING UP BUDAPEST, HUNGARY (JULY 12, 2017) (REUTERS) BILLBOARD POSTERS OF U.S. FINANCIER GEORGE SOROS READING (Hungarian) "Let's not allow Soros to have the last laugh" CYCLIST PASSING TWO BILLBOARD POSTERS POSTER ON TRAM STOP THREE SOROS BILLBOARDS ON HOUSE FACADE VARIOUS OF BILLBOARD WITH GRAFFITI SAYING (Hungarian): "Because of these the word Jew is an insult"
  • Embargoed: 2nd August 2017 22:21
  • Keywords: George Soros campaign Benjamin Netanyahu anti-Semitism Jewish objection Jewish leader objects Holocaust memorial visit
  • Location: BUDAPEST, HUNGARY
  • City: BUDAPEST, HUNGARY
  • Country: Hungary
  • Topics: Religion/Belief,Society/Social Issues
  • Reuters ID: LVA0016QDUURR
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Hungarian Jews on Wednesday (July 19) sharply criticised Viktor Orban's billboard campaign using an image of U.S. financier George Soros and said the Israeli government's backing of it came as a disappointment to the local Jewish community.
    In the campaign, Soros is singled out as an enemy of Hungary. "Let's not allow Soros to have the last laugh" say billboards next to a picture of the 86-year-old Jewish investor, a campaign that Jewish groups say foments anti-Semitism. Many posters have been defaced with anti-Semitic graffiti.
    Addressing Prime Minister Orban and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a ceremonial hall near the main synagogue in Budapest, Andras Heisler, chairman of the Federation of Hungarian Jewish Federations (Mazsihisz), said it was unacceptable that the campaign triggered fear among Jews. His mother, 92, who survived the Holocaust, was in the audience.
    Orban's government has said the campaign has nothing to do with anti-Semitism but sought to counter what it said was Soros' attempts to unduly change Hungary's immigration policies. Soros has funded groups in Hungary that promote human rights and a positive approach to immigration.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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