Trump's Gaza Vision: Rethinking Hungary's Relations with Israel and the Middle East

This paper analyses Hungary’s foreign policy on the Israel-Palestinian conflict and the potential impact of US President Donald J. Trump’s Gaza plan. While Jerusalem is Budapest's main ally in the Middle East, Hungary's Connectivity strategy, which aims to maintain good relations with countries and blocs around the world, does not exclusively encompass the State of Israel. A clear sign of successful relationship-building in the Middle East is that the only European Foreign Minister who was present at the signing of the Abraham Accords was Hungary’s Péter Szijjártó. Budapest’s other regional partners like Turkey, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates oppose Donald Trump’s plan to solve the Gaza crisis. Thus the implementation of such an idea poses several potential risks on Hungary; as an example it could damage the relations with a variety of stakeholders in the Middle East. The authors of the present paper trace the historical evolution of Hungary’s stance on Israel-Palestinian relations, noting a transition from alignment with Arab states during the Soviet era to a position of neutrality after regime change and ultimately to strongly pro-Israel policies under Viktor Orbán. They also illustrate how the Hungarian government strives to build good relations with all regional actors, resulting in economic and political benefits. The paper argues that it is not in Budapest's interest to become actively involved in regional dynamics, as taking a definitive stance on local issues could jeopardise its relations in the region. The study further explores Hungary's broader diplomatic goals and strategies. Although the current government often plays the role of a ‘black sheep’ within the European Union, the country's voice on the global stage has notably increased in recent years. The authors also discuss how Trump’s new peace approach could significantly impact Hungary's Middle Eastern policy, particularly its key initiative, Hungary Helps, which aims to assist persecuted Christians.