Introduction
Israel and Hungary maintain close economic and military relations. Hungary acquired a number of significant arms, including anti-aircraft systems, artillery, drones and cyber technologies.
Israel – Hungary Relations
Since 2010 Hungary’s Prime Minister Orban has built alliances with Israel, especially former Prime Minister Netanyahu.[1]Netanyahu, Orban, and the Resurgence of Antisemitism: Lessons of the Last Century. In 2017 Netanyahu made an official visit to Hungary and met Orban. He participated in an economic forum alongside with a delegation of dozens of Israeli companies. After his visit in Hungary he took part in a summit of the four-country Visegrad group made up of Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.[2]Israel – Visegrad Group Joint Statement The V4 states’ officials have repeatedly expressed interest in Israeli security technologies, the purchase of Israeli weapons and equipment, as well as in trainings with the Israeli military.[3]The Visegrád Group’s Policy towards Israel Common Values and Interests as a Catalyst for Cooperation
In 2019 prime minister Orban visited Israel and met Netanyahu. Orban and the leaders of Slovakia and the Czech Republic arrived in Jerusalem, holding brief individual bilateral meetings with Netanyahu, as well as one joint meeting.[4]Hungary to open office with ‘diplomatic status’ in Jerusalem
Israel’s export stood on $125m in 2020 with the main export sectors being Electrical Machinery, Pharmaceutical Products, Organic Chemicals and Mechanic equipment according to the Israel Export Institute.[5]Export Gov Israel : Country Snapshot – Hungary
During the 2023-2025 war on Gaza, Hungary refused to endorse a call for ceasefire, derailed EU plans to slap sanctions on violent Israeli settlers,[6]Euro news, All EU countries, bar Hungary, call for eventual Gaza ceasefire, 19.02.2024 and declared it will defy the International Criminal Court warrant against Israeli prime minister Netanyahu.[7]Business Standart, Israel-Gaza war: Hungarian PM Orban defies ICC arrest warrant for Netanyahu, 22.11.2024[8]AP News, Orbán aide says Netanyahu to visit Hungary despite international arrest warrant, 13.03.2025
Signed agreements:
2006: agreement on economic cooperation, specifically in water, environmental, R&D, and venture capital sectors.[9]Israel, Hungary sign economic cooperation agreement
2014: Hungary and Israel signed a scientific cooperation agreement. It appears primarily focused on academic and cultural exchanges and cooperation.[10]Hungary and Israel Forging Scientific Cooperation
2021: agreement regarding cooperation in laser and artificial technologies (including research into drones).[11]Hungary and Israel to cooperate in AI and laser technology/
2021: Hungary announced in 2021 that it will build 1000 mobile tactical shelters for Israel to defend itself against rocket strikes.[12]Hungary to Build Mobile Tactical Shelters for Israel
Military Relations
In 2017 Hungary announced a comprehensive program to modernize and expand its military industry, both in support of its own forces, to develop weapons for export[13]Modernization and Rearmament – Hungary’s Zrínyi 2026 Programand to reach the 2% of GDP military expenditures required by NATO. [14]Hungary Is Significantly Improving Its Military This involves partnerships or deals with several different countries, including Israel.
In 2010 two Gulfstream Intelligence airplanes of the Israeli Air Force conducted a low-level pass over Budapest. It is not clear what was their mission and if they were involved in the killing of an Hungarian-Syrian citizen in Budapest.[15]Syrian murder, Israeli planes not linked: official
In 2015 a meeting between Hungarian and Israeli governmental and academic officials were conducted at the National University of Public Service (NUPS) in Budapest, Hungary. The purpose of the meeting was to strengthen relations between Hungary and Israel in research, policy and security issues. The sponsor of the conference was Israeli Ambassador to Hungary. Management from Galilee International Management Institute participated in the meeting.[16]28/10/2015 | GIMI Cooperation with the Government of Hungary
In 2020 Hungary aqcuired MMR anti-aircraft and artillery radars ordered by the Israeli company ELTA[17]Rheinmetall and IAI/ELTA to supply Hungary with advanced radar systems and showed interest in purchasing also Hermes drones.[18]Izraeli rakétákat és robotrepülőket rendszeresíthet a honvédség
In July 2021 it was reported that Hungary aqcuired SPIKE missiles for infantry combat vehicles.[19]Is Hungary acquiring Spike missiles for its Lynx armored vehicles? A statement by the Hungarian defense procurement agency said that during a visit by a Hungarian defense delegation to Israel in July 2021, Gáspár Maróth, the Hungarian government’s commissioner for defense, and Zvi Marmor, head of the Precision Tactical Weapons Systems Division of Rafael, signed an agreement for the supply of Spike missiles for 220 Lynx KF41 APCs, which the Hungarian government purchased from the German company Rheinmetall in 2020 for $2.38 billion.[20]Is Hungary acquiring Spike missiles for its Lynx armored vehicles?
During the July 2021 visit to Israel, the Hungarian delegation also visited the Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) plant of Israel Aerospace Industries, the ELTA plant that manufactures Iron Dome radars, and Elbit.[21]Is Hungary acquiring Spike missiles for its Lynx armored vehicles?
October 2022: IAI, one of Israel’s biggest defense companies, opened a jet passenger to cargo conversion site at Belgrade.[22]EX-YU Aviation News, First wide-body jet conversion site opened in Belgrade, 02.10.2022
March 2023: The Hungarian Defense Force (HDF) purchased new soldier and vehicular radios from Elbit Systems under the Zrínyi programme. The products are part of the company’s E-LynX family of software-defined radios.[23]Janes, Hungary acquires new soldier and vehicular radios, 07.03.2023
September 2023: Elbit UK subcontracted the Hungarian defence company Pro Patria to provide ground-based surveillance radars to the British armed forces.[24]Hungarian Conservative, Hungarian Radars Will Protect British Soldiers on the Battlefield, 20.09.2023
December 2023: Hungary’s Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky visited Israel and met the Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant to discuss military-to-military relations and cooperation in the field of defence industry. The leaders of the Elbit, Rafael and IAI companies also participated in the discussions. During the visit a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Hungarian–Israeli military cooperation was signed.[25]Hungarian Ministry of Defense, We Stand Beside Our Allies in Hard Times, 06.12.2023
December 2024: Elbit System has been awarded a US$175 million contract to supply electronic warfare (EW) and DIRCM self-protection suites for installation on Embraer C-390 Millennium aircraft and Airbus H225M helicopters. While the name of the country was not disclosed in the announcement, Hungary is the only country known to operate both aircraft types.[26]Shepard, Elbit to deliver EW self-protection suites for a European country’s C-390 and H225M aircraft, 10.12.2024[27]Aerospace Global News, Elbit’s Self-Protection Suite tested on Portuguese Air Force C-390, 22.12.2024
Joint Training:
On August 27, 2020, the Israeli Air Force, German Air Force and the Hungarian Air Force completed a joint excersice in Germany. Hungary piloted the Gripen aircraft (JAS-39).[28]IAF Completes Historic Joint Exercise
Cyber Security:
In the beginning of the 2000s Israel and Hungary began organizing joint IT/Cyber-forums. In the second Forum, that was organized in Budapest in participation of Hungary’s minister of communication and minister of Economy, many Israeli tech-companies participated, including IAI.[29]the High-Tech Israel Hungary Forum ended
In 2017 IAI invested in the Israeli/Hungarian company Cytrox, which provides governments with an operational cyber solution for design, management and implementation of cyber intelligence as well as innovative engines for gathering intelligence from end devices and cloud services. IAI’s investments will be carried out by IAI’s Cyber Division, with the goal of expanding IAI’s cyber R&D and its global footprint in this field.[30]IAI Invests in two Cyber Companies in Holland and Hungary Cytrox was reported to be part of Intellexa, the so-called “Star Alliance of Spyware” which was founded by the Israeli Ex-Military officer Tal Dilian. Cytrox was acquired by Dilian in 2018.[31]Pegasus vs. Predator Dissident’s Doubly-Infected iPhone Reveals Cytrox Mercenary Spyware
In 2018 Budapest Police acquired Cellebrite’s UFED devices.[32]TED Europa Contract Notice : Hungary-Budapest: Software package and information systems In 2019 another contract for UFED devices were made by Budapest Police.[33]TED Europa Contract Award Notice : Hungary Budapest Police UFED
In 2018 it was revealed the Israeli private intelligence firm Black Cube was involved in a campaign to discredit NGOs ahead of Hungary’s election in April 2018. The recordings were used by then Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to attack independent civil society organizations during the last days of the campaign. It remained unknown whether the Hungarian government was involved.[34]Politico, Israeli intelligence firm targeted NGOs during Hungary’s election campaign, 06.07.2026
In September 2022 the Israeli company Avnon Group confirmed the sale of a social media-tracking software to Hungary, that was approved by the Israeli Defense Ministry.[35]Israeli firm to sell social media-tracking software to Orban’s Hungary
In September 2022 Direkt36 revealed that Communication Technologies Ltd, the broker company through which Pegasus was sold for the government of Hungary, listed more Israeli companies in the types of foreign technologies it was trading. Attenti Group sold the Hungarian company electronic surveillance systems (electronic trackers), Cellebrite, Corsight AI and Viisights, the last two are developing video surveillance systems based on artificial intelligence.[36]Direkt36, The inside story of how Pegasus was brought to Hungary, 28.09.2022
Pegasus (NSO Group):
A lawmaker from Hungary’s ruling party has acknowledged in November 2021 that the Interior Ministry bought and used Pegasus spy software.[37]Hungary admits to using NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware
In July 2021 the Pegasus project, a collaborative investigation run by the French nonprofit journalism organisation Forbidden Stories, has reviewed leaked records that suggest a wide range of people in Hungary were selected as potential targets before a possible hacking attempt with the Pegasus spyware, sold by the Israeli company NSO Group. In a number of cases, forensic analysis confirmed devices had been infected with Pegasus. The records also include the numbers of at least 10 lawyers, an opposition politician and at least five journalists.[38]Viktor Orbán using NSO spyware in assault on media, data suggests In January 2022 it was reported that the Hungarian government has allegedly hired a Washington DC lobbyist who is linked to Israeli company NSO Group to prepare for potential US sanctions.[39]Hungary hires ex-Pegasus spyware lobbyist
The Hungarian Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit against the Hungarian government and the NSO Group in Hungary, Israel and in the EU in January 2022.[40]‘I Was in Touch With Likud, Israelis’: Pegasus Victims Fight Hungary, NSO
Usage of Israeli Arms
Skylark (Pacsirta) – In usage since 2009 by Hungarian Defense Forces. In 2014 the army reported that many deployments have already taken place. According to the source it was used in Afghanistan in many occasions.[41]Debrecen is the “lark nest” of the Hungarian Defense Forces Installation and training took place at the Hajdúhadház training base in Debrecen, Hungary. The Hungarian Armed Forces has also ordered training from the Israeli company Elbit.[42]Hajdúhadházon mutatták be a pilóta nélküli repülőgépet
Litening Pod – In usage on Saab JAS 39C Gripens fighter jets, Hungarian Air Force (HuAF).[43]Hungarian Gripens showcase new capabilities in NATO Baltic Air Policing mission
Pegasus – Hungarian Interior Ministry bought and used Pegasus spy software. [44]hungary admits
ELM-2084 Radar – has been installed at the radar squadron of the Hungarian Defense Forces Air Operation Command and Control Center in western Hungary.[45]Hungary Today, Israeli-made Iron Dome Radar Now Operational in Hungarian Air Space, 27.03.2024
Human Rights Violations
In March 2025 A new anti-LGBTQ+ law was passed in Hungary. The law bans Pride events and allows authorities to use facial recognition software to identify those attending the festivities.[46]AP news, Hungary’s new anti-LGBTQ+ law bans Pride events and sparks protests, 19.03.2025
Hungary’s government used the Covid-19 pandemic as a pretext to continue its attacks on rule of law and democratic institutions. The government declared a state of emergency in March, seizing unlimited power to rule by decree without parliamentary and judicial review. Before the state of emergency was revoked in mid-June 2020, the government had issued hundreds of decrees, including on issues unrelated to public health. The government made access to asylum close to impossible, interfered with independent media and academia, launched an assault on members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community, and undermined women’s rights. Hungary’s Roma minority continue to face widespread and systemic discrimination.[47]HRW Hungary Report 2020
In its Rule of Law report released in October, the European Union Commission raised concerns about the lack of independence of the judiciary, intimidation of independent media, and the impact of the weakening of independent institutions and pressures on civil society on democratic checks and balances.[48]HRW Hungary Report 2020
In June 2020, new rules introduced severely limited access to asylum. Transitional measures, denounced by UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, removed the possibility for asylum-seekers to submit applications inside Hungary, instead requiring them to first submit a “declaration of intent” at selected embassies outside the country.[49]Amnesty Human Rights Report Hungary 2021
Asylum seekers entering, mostly from Serbia, were expelled, often collectively. By the end of 2020, police pushbacks across the border fence exceeded 30,000, in breach of the obligation to individually assess the risk of refoulement, the forcible return of individuals to countries where they risk serious human rights violations. In December, the CJEU ruled that such returns breached EU law.[50]HRW Hungary Report 2020
At the end of 2015, Hungary established two transit zones near the fence along the Serbian border. Here, refugees were able to apply for asylum. However, in recent years, the conditions for staying there had become more and more restrictive. Couples and families were separated; only babies were allowed to stay with their mothers. The accommodation was extremely cramped, and resembled the high-security wing of a prison. Finally, refugees were also hardly being given any food.[51]How Hungary is violating EU law on refugees
In 2017 Hungary began building a fence on its border with Serbia, capable of delivering electric shocks to unwanted migrants and armed with heat sensors, cameras, and loudspeakers that blare in several languages.[52]Hungary builds new high-tech border fence – with few migrants in sight
Hungary’s investment in migration-management technology is shielded from public scrutiny by a 2017 legal amendment but its lack of transparency and practice of pushing migrants back have been criticised by other EU nations and the European court of justice, leading to Frontex suspending operations in Hungary in January.[53]‘They can see us in the dark’: migrants grapple with hi-tech fortress EU
Viktor Orban, Prime Minister since 2010, has been accused of encouraging far right activity in general and anti-Semitism in particular, and has increasingly aligned himself with what has been called “illiberal pseudo-democracies led by ‘elected authoritarians’”.[54]Analysis | Israel Needs to Step Away From the Trump-Orbán-Bolsonaro Illiberal Alliance