Protest disrupts Israeli historian’s lecture at top Hungarian university, ministers call for investigation

A public lecture at Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE) in Budapest was interrupted by protesters on Thursday, leading to the suspension of the event and prompting government ministers to call for an immediate investigation.

The lecture, titled “Diversity and Democracy in Israeli Society,” was to be held by Alexander Yakobson, a historian from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Organised by the Department of Hebrew Studies at ELTE’s Faculty of Humanities, the three-part course was open to the public and meant to explore aspects of Israeli society and politics.

However, according to reports by Szombat magazine and Hungarian news outlets, a small group of attendees wearing Palestinian keffiyehs began shouting during the introduction of the lecture, accusing the event of promoting political propaganda and supporting genocide. Despite attempts by organisers to restore order and Yakobson’s effort to engage in dialogue, the disruption continued.

University security was called, but the situation could not be resolved on-site. Following the university’s internal protocol, the Faculty decided to suspend the event. The organisers later informed participants that the course is expected to continue online.

Ministers condemn disruption of lecture

Balázs Hankó, Minister of Culture and Innovation, and János Bóka, Minister for European Union Affairs, both issued statements condemning the incident and urging the university to take action.

Hankó published an open letter to ELTE rector Lénárd Darázs on social media, writing that “every provocation must be stopped at its roots”. He called on the university to investigate the incident without delay and to hold those involved accountable.