Amid growing speculation that full diplomatic ties between Hungary and Israel could be resumed as early as the end of April, the World Jewish Congress has announced plans to open an office in Budapest in July.
Resumption of relations would make Hungary the first of the Eastern Bloc nations that broke relations with Israel after the Six-Day War to resume ties.
Earlier this month, the Hungarian minister of communications, transport and construction signed an accord on travel between the two countries.
Andras Derzsi signed the accord in Tel Aviv with Israeli Transport Minister Moshe Katsav, establishing regular flights between Tel Aviv and Budapest by EI Al Airlines and Hungary’s national Malev Airlines.
At the same time, Derzsi signed a memorandum of understanding for bilateral cooperation in the area of communications with Communications Minister Gad Ya’acobi, who will pay an official visit to Budapest at the end of May.
The agreement on establishing the WJC office in Budapest was reached with the Hungarian government following two months of negotiations, according to Elan Steinberg, WJC executive director.
The bureau in the Hungarian capital will mark the first time a WJC office will be established in a Communist country.
Jewish communities in Communist countries, such as Romania, Poland, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia and even East Germany and Cuba, have WJC affiliates but do not maintain formal WJC offices.
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