Netanyahu in Budapest: Peace needs a strong army and strong economy

A strong army together with a strong economy will lead to peace, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in Budapest on Friday.
Netanyahu said in a lecture at the National University of Public Service after receiving the Civis Universitatis Honoris Causa title that education and a stable vision for the future were vitally important. He said it had been essential for the survival of Jewish people that they must have their own state that can protect them.
“If they want to destroy you, you need a strong army, which Israel has managed to create,” he added. Netanyahu also said a strong army required a large amount of money. Since defending Israel costs a lot, the Jewish state needed a strong economy, he added.

He said that initially Israel had had an economy that had been built on a socialist basis, but later it had been converted into a modern market-based capitalist economy. Netanyahu noted that it had generated a dynamic GDP growth, and the proportion of defence spending started decreasing in Israel’s budget as a result. A strong army together with a strong economy lead to peace, he said.
Close partnership with Trump, Orbán
Netanyahu also said that he expected to maintain close partnership with the US under President Donald Trump, and also with Hungary led by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Addressing the students, he said that in addition to education and an image of the future, courage was also necessary for a successful future.
Rector praises Netanyahu
Rector Gergely Deli said Netanyahu was a prominent figure in world politics. He praised his leadership, his unwavering dedication towards Israel’s security and welfare, towards promoting international diplomatic ties and protecting and Hungarian-Israeli citizens and his significant contribution to strengthening ties between Hungary and Israel.
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