Róbert Székely, Gréta Gonda, József László / Infovilág
The Israeli war has been ongoing for over a year, claiming thousands of lives, yet there is still no end in sight. Róbert Székely, a journalist for Izraelinfo.com, has firsthand knowledge of the topic. A member of the Hungarian Journalists’ Association who has lived in Tel Aviv since 1972, Székely recently discussed the complexities of the Middle Eastern situation during a visit to Hungary. József László led the conversation.
Róbert Székely: “The Problem is That Many Have Lost the Ability to Think Critically”
The Israeli journalist visited the Hungarian Press House on October 8, 2024, nearly marking the anniversary of the Israeli war’s outbreak. Székely is the founder of Izraelinfo.com, the largest Hungarian-language news outlet about Israel. With a readership of 10,000, the nonprofit online newspaper is run entirely by volunteers, including Székely himself, who works full-time as an IT professional. Given the widespread interest in the war, the event venue was packed. Below are some key thoughts shared during the discussion.
József László opened with a direct question: – Will there be a larger war in the Middle East, or is there hope for at least a temporary solution?
Székely responded, “A lot of forces are clashing here. This is not simply an Israeli-Palestinian conflict; the underlying issues are far deeper, making it hard to grasp what is truly happening in the Middle East. The region’s complexity is reflected in the rivalries among Arab countries, each vying to be the dominant power in the Middle East, competing over religious leadership and geopolitical stakes like access to the Mediterranean Sea. To complicate matters further, there are deep divisions even within the Arab world, most notably between Shiite and Sunni groups. Iran, the largest Shiite state, aims not only to dismantle Israel but also to position Shiism as the world’s leading religion.”
He continued, “The desire to dismantle Israel isn’t exclusive to Iran. The 1979 Islamic Revolution marked a turning point, transforming Iran from a relatively open, pro-Western, and pro-Israel state into a theocracy under Ayatollah rule. Since then, Iran has focused on building proxy armies throughout the Middle East, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen.”
József László interjected, noting that these groups gain influence by providing social services alongside military buildup. Székely agreed, saying, “Yes, it’s a consistent strategy. Hezbollah in Lebanon became the largest military and political power in the country. From a Western perspective, we mostly see the political entity maintaining a social network. This benefits Hamas, too, by swaying international opinion against Israel, for example, when a school is bombed. In reality, these territories are under occupation, with control over finances—and whoever controls the money and management holds power. Meanwhile, Israel abides by international laws, striving to maintain an ethical military, which can be a disadvantage.”
László raised another point, asking if the Middle East still represents a battleground for Russia, the U.S., and their influence.
“It’s still noticeable, but less so now,” Székely replied, “because internal Arab conflicts prevent any single, unified front from forming. Take Syria, for instance, where Russia supports Assad alongside Iran, but Russia, Iran, and Hezbollah even compete against each other for control. They also clash with Turkey, which seeks access to the Mediterranean and dominance as the foremost Muslim power. Syria is a battleground of 6-8 competing interests, with different factions allied on various issues. However, it’s unlikely that Turkey will annex Syria since, as a NATO member, its actions are limited.”
Will Israel Join NATO?
“I don’t foresee Israel joining NATO in the near future,” Székely said. “This conflict is not something NATO wants to take on. Still, Israel has numerous agreements with NATO member states and regularly participates in NATO exercises, contributing to joint development efforts.”
László asked about Hamas’s recent attacks and the stalled Abraham Accords peace process: “Who benefits from this disruption?”
“The Abraham Accords likely disrupted Iran’s interests most,” Székely explained, “because the agreement primarily united Israel with Sunni states, aligning them within the American sphere of influence.”
Questions from the Audience
Audience members asked about pro-Palestinian protests in Europe and America. Székely responded, “Protesters, seeing selective information, conclude that Israel is committing genocide, and they protest accordingly. The real problem is that many have lost the ability to think critically, existing in echo chambers that discourage independent research.”
He urged everyone to “research facts from diverse sources and draw their own conclusions. Israel has made mistakes that fuel outrage and provide protestors with reasons. The fact that millions of Palestinians live under occupation adds fuel to this unrest.”
When asked why Israel won’t relinquish Palestinian territories, Székely replied, “Since 1967, Israel has occupied Palestinian territories it doesn’t wish to annex but keeps under control. This leaves millions without basic human rights. Naturally, displacement is unjust. Both sides feel justified in their perspective, but the greatest enemy of peace is the relentless pursuit of who is right. Peace will come when we seek solutions, not when we debate who’s in the right.”
Can Objectivity Survive in Today’s Media?
Asked about objectivity in journalism, Székely commented, “Everyone’s opinion comes through, and that’s fine. The question is how we present it and whether we allow space for other views. Journalists have a responsibility to research topics thoroughly, to care about accuracy, and to understand how their writing shapes readers’ knowledge.”
Has the War Saved Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu?
Székely remarked, “Netanyahu is, in many ways, acting like Viktor Orbán in Hungary, leveraging the state of emergency. Since the war began, he’s tried to push through unpopular laws, creating societal friction that prevents broad support for him. There’s also the complex question of who bears responsibility for the war’s outbreak. A commission should investigate this—a step the government has yet to take. They should scrutinize what intelligence knew or didn’t know, and why the military response took so long.”
Ending Thoughts The two-hour discussion offered attendees perspectives rooted in daily life within a conflict zone, shedding light on the war’s underlying causes, global political processes, intricate alliances, and ever-present dangers. With the complexities of world politics and unresolved questions, one wonders: can we ever know who is truly right, find solutions, and achieve lasting peace?
