The Visegrád states and Israel
Dimensions and functions of a special relationship
Deutsche Fassung
Abstract
The Visegrád states – Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia – place great value on their separate policy towards Israel. Here, there are more than just economic interests at stake. The Israel policy of the four states also reflects the fact that they place particular importance on a nation state that is sovereign with regard to both domestic and foreign policy. Thus, their policy towards Israel is at the same time symbolic European policy and a part of the anything but uniform Israel policy of the EU. This applies in particular to Hungary and Poland, where the governments in power are also closest to Netanyahu’s government in Israel both politically and in terms of their worldview. Poland, like Israel, also places great importance on its relations with the US. At the same time, the history policy in Warsaw is a source of conflict with Jerusalem, with its emphasis on Polish heroes and victims
(Osteuropa 9-11/2019, pp. 351–367)