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B’nai B’rith is outraged over a Hungarian politician’s proposal to compile a list of Hungarians with Jewish ancestry to be evaluated for what he describes as their level of threat to national security. This is a new low for the Jobbik party, a group that is already rife with anti-Semitism. Hungary and the rest of Europe should look at this as a serious matter and take action against this political entity that endorses ultra-nationalist policies.

A leader of the far-right Jobbik party, Marton Gyongyosi, suggested on Nov. 27 to the Hungarian parliament that those of Jewish descent be listed and evaluated as to whether they pose a national security threat.

“This blatant anti-Semitic effort is an unacceptable outrage,” B’nai B’rith International President Allan J. Jacobs said. “Gyongyosi must resign from parliament. His actions reveal the bigoted intentions of the Jobbik party. Mainstream politics and responsible political actors in Europe must take this seriously and denounce it.”

The Jobbik party is the third largest party in the Hungarian parliament. It is known for making controversial statements on the Holocaust and displaying vehement anti-Israel hatred.

“It is flatly unacceptable that there are members of the Hungarian parliament who demonize Jews,” B’nai B’rith International Executive Vice President Daniel S. Mariaschin said. “The Jobbik party is an embarrassment to Hungarian politics and should be repudiated.”

During the Holocaust between 500,000 and 600,000 Hungarian Jews were murdered.