Hungary: Israeli flag set on fire during protest

Some 3,000 public sector employees protest against government cutbacks in Budapest. Radical right-wing elements join rally, torch at least one Israeli flag

AFP |Published: 05.07.11 , 10:52

At least one Israeli flag was set on fire Saturday during a demonstration near the Hungarian parliament in Budapest.

Some 3,000 demonstrators, mostly police officers, firefighters, soldiers and other public sector employees gathered in protest of government downsizing. The crowd was joined by radical right-wing elements, who reportedly torched the flags.

Hungary has seen several anti-Semitic incidents in the past few years. Last June, the slogan "death to Jews" was sprayed in the Jewish cemetery in the city of Debrecen.

The graffiti was sprayed ahead of a memorial service that commemorated 12,000 Debrecen Jews who were murdered in Auschwitz during the Holocaust.

In November 2008, on the 70th anniversary of Krystalnacht, unknown perpetrators shattered the windows of the city's synagogue, as well as another window in the Jewish community building.

During last year's election, Hungary's center-right party Fidesz won over 50% of the vote.

Hungary's far-right party – currently the third largest faction in parliament – blamed Jews and gypsies for the country's troubles in its pre-election platform.