Hungarian lawmaker to speak on ‘Zionist threat’

(JTA) — A lawmaker from Hungary’s Jobbik Party who recently called for listing Jews as a “security risk” reportedly is planning a lecture tour about the “Zionist threat.” 

The lecture tour by Marton Gyongyosi is set to begin this year, Jobbik said in a statement. 

Gyongyosi drew passionate condemnations in Hungary and abroad when he said during a speech in parliament in November that “it was time to compile a list of Hungarian Jews” as they pose “a national risk.” His address concerned Hungarians with dual nationalities, specifically the Israeli nationality.

In recent weeks, Jobbik, Hungary’s third largest party, has intensified its hostile rhetoric against Israel and Jews. Eleven out of the 16 articles featured on Sunday on the homepage of the party’s English-language website were devoted to Jewish institutions or Israel.

Even before this intensification, Jobbik’s anti-Israel and anti-Jewish rhetoric led to its labeling as anti-Semitic by the Anti-Defamation League as well as Israeli and American diplomats.

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