Hungary’s government has earmarked £2.6 million for combating antisemitism in Europe.
Half of the money will become available for government-led initiatives in the 2019 national budget, followed by a second allocation in the following one, according to a statement Wednesday by the Association of United Hungarian Jewish Congregation, or EMIH, which is working with the government on these projects.
The new funds, which may become a permanent article in Hungary’s annual budget, are part of a government resolution adopted this week by the Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Office, Minister Gergely Gulyás, the statement said.
In addition to the establishment of at least one hotline for reporting antisemitic incidents, the funding will go to initiatives in the fields of justice and education.
Leading the implementation of projects will be the Action and Protection Foundation, or TEV, of Hungarian Jewry – a watchdog group set up in 2012.
“Hungary is contributing in a fairly significant way to the battle against antisemitism, and I express my appreciation to the government for this,” said Rabbi Shlomo Koves, leader of the Chabad-affiliated EMIH group and a founder of TEV.
In Hungary, where some 100,000 Jews live, TEV has recorded only 37 antisemitic incidents in 2017, of which 24 were hate speech cases. TEV recorded no physical attacks on Jews in 2017.
