On Sunday, September 14th, the Zsilip Synagogue in Budapest hosted a special event featuring one of Israel’s leading journalists and political commentators, Erel Segal, who delivered a lecture titled “Israel’s Challenges After October 7th.”
The event was organised by the Action and Protection League (APL) in collaboration with its Israeli partner, Zionist Horizon (Chazon Leumi), and in cooperation with Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael (KKL–JNF), as part of Zionist Horizon’s student delegation to Budapest.
The synagogue hall was filled to capacity, as community members gathered to hear Segal’s insights into the challenges facing Israel and the broader West in the struggle against radical Islam and the progressive camp.
Proceedings began with a moment of silence in memory of Charlie Kirk, who was brutally murdered the previous week for his outspoken support of Israel and the Jewish people. Kirk’s death shocked America and the wider world, and his legacy was honoured at the gathering.
Warm greetings were shared by Neria Meir, Head of the Diaspora Department of the World Zionist Organisation, in a recorded message. Rabbi Shmuel Raskin, Rabbi of the Israeli community in Hungary, then honoured the guests with the sounding of the shofar. Further addresses were delivered by Kálmán Szalai, Chairman of the Action and Protection League; Yisrael Shuldiner, Chairman of Zionist Horizon; and Shmuel Eisenberg, KKL–JNF representative in Hungary.
In his lecture, Segal emphasised the urgent need to strengthen a Jewish–Christian alliance, underlining Israel’s role as a central partner with the United States in leading this effort. Rejecting what he described as a “victim narrative,” he urged Israel to highlight instead its strengths in technology, economics, and military capability. He also spoke of the Bible as the shared foundation of Judaism and Christianity, presenting it as the moral bedrock of Western civilisation.
The lecture captivated the audience, with many praising Segal’s clear vision for Israel’s future role in shaping alliances and defending Western values.
Since the Hamas atrocities of October 7th, the Action and Protection League has worked intensively to bring the Israeli narrative to European audiences. This well-received event contributes to a growing list of initiatives over the past two years, including high-level conferences in the European Union and the production of films that showcase Israeli society and its numerous contributions.
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