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A supporter of Hungary's far right party Jobbik kisses the hand of European Parliamentary candidate Krisztina Morvai during an election campaign event in Budapest.
(AP)
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Last update - 14:58 08/06/2009
'Hungarian Jews should stick to playing with their circumcised tails'
By Yehuda Lahav
Tags: Israel news, Hungary 

The last day of voting was underway on Sunday for the European Parliament election, and in Hungary, the conservative right-wing party Fidesz was expected to win by a solid lead.

However, the real question in this election was whether or not the extreme rightist party Jobbik would gain the necessary 5 percent of the vote to achieve representation in the EU parliament.

Topping the Jobbik list is Krisztina Morvai, who sparked controversy several days ago when she responded to criticism in a letter saying "I would be glad if the so-called proud Hungarian Jews would go back to playing with their tiny little circumcised tail rather than vilifying me."
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This statement and the spirit in which it was written were widely condemned by a host of professors at the university where Morvai is a lecturer. Former Hungarian foreign minister Dr. Géza Jeszenszky said that with this statement, Morvai "removed herself from public life" and that her comments were inappropriate for a public figure and for a woman in general.

The spokesman for the Fidesz party Robert Repassi described Morvai as "inconceivable and anti-Semitic," and voiced hope that she would issue an apology. The apology never came.

Director of the Alliance of Hungarian Jewish Communities Gustav Zoltai remarked that comments such as Morvai's should rule out anyone who aspires to be a representative in the European parliament, adding that "she'd be better off not advertising her vast experience with what she calls 'tiny little circumcised tails'."

Even though Morvai's statement drew extensive criticism and general condemnation, experts say that Jobbik's chances of achieving representation are relatively good, perhaps thanks to the party's "wild" outspoken style which may appeal to the more primitive elements within Hungarian society.

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      1.   Hungarian Muslims 16:54  |  Shtarka 07/06/09
      2.   JEWS of Hungary get out while you can 17:05  |  PETER SM 07/06/09
      3.   Lahav 17:08  |  Jehuda 07/06/09
      4.   Weak stuff 17:10  |  Natallie Durson 07/06/09
      5.   Leftie Esther from TA ,it`s settlers fault ,otherwise Ms.Morvay 17:17  |  Absolute Sweden 07/06/09
      6.   To Natallie 17:19  |  mo 07/06/09
      7.   Unmentschen like Christina Morvay at work to lift up mankind. 17:26  |  Jew-and Bookburner 07/06/09
      8.   Peter SM 17:33  |  Danite 07/06/09
      9.   # 2 petersm 17:37  |  Axel 07/06/09
      10.   correction 17:38  |  jl 07/06/09
      11.   #4 Durson 17:41  |  Mike B 07/06/09
      12.   Reminds me of 17:43  |  Axel 07/06/09
      13.   Such a dignified politician Morvay is 17:46  |  Conroy 07/06/09
      14.   Austria-Hungary 17:48  |  Paul 07/06/09
      15.   Wow - amazing in this day & age. an unwise & ruptuary comment. 18:47  |  Tcherkessi 07/06/09
      16.   "Primitive elements of Hungrian society" 18:59  |  Arnold 07/06/09
      17.   To: Durson 19:04  |  Good 07/06/09
      18.   "Response" To Criticism??? 19:17  |  Brad 07/06/09
      19.   this is a witty comment 19:17  |  ky 07/06/09
      20.   Evidence? 20:10  |  Sophie 07/06/09
      21.   Took me a minute... 20:18  |  Brendan 07/06/09
      22.   #15 20:32  |  jkovacs 07/06/09
      23.   ANTISEMITISM ? 20:37  |  JOJO 07/06/09
      24.   Hungarian Jews 20:37  |  John 07/06/09
      25.   Double Cruelty: Defending Morvai by some Pro-Palestinian friends 20:38  |  NoToStupidTalkBacker 07/06/09
      26.   I don`t know... 01:42  |  American 08/06/09
      27.   The comment is viciously anti-Semitic (and very vulgar) 04:51  |  Zvi 08/06/09
      28.   #9, AXEL, how come? 04:55  |  VIPER 08/06/09
      29.   SHAME ON HER AND OTHER ARROW CROSS DESCENDANTS 06:39  |  Solomon the Wise 08/06/09
      30.   Indifference paved the road to the Holocaust 06:57  |  American-Jew 08/06/09
      31.   EU should ban her 07:30  |  Elly 08/06/09
      32.   Who do the Europeans love? 07:41  |  utagawa 08/06/09
      33.   axel 08:21  |  connie 08/06/09
      34.   "ANTISEMITISM" - THE LIE 08:44  |  Leslie 08/06/09
      35.   Natallie - So biased in so many ways 08:47  |  Richard 08/06/09
      36.   AXEL I CAN go to Israel if the likes of this" lady" 11:31  |  PETER SM 08/06/09
      37.   KOVACS and his "ezer eves kultura".So what? 11:36  |  PETER SM 08/06/09
      38.   VIPER can you read? 14:52  |  PETER SM 08/06/09
      39.   The true face of anti-Semitism 18:38  |  Giora Me`ir 08/06/09
      40.   No different in rhetoric than far right Israelis 20:31  |  SO what? 08/06/09
      41.   # 5 to absolute sweden re: esther and "lefties" (3rd try) 21:11  |  eric 08/06/09
      42.   Playing a Tackky Card! 21:23  |  Texas Tina 08/06/09
      43.   To #4 Durson 22:09  |  Dan 08/06/09
      44.   TO THE JEWS OF HUNGARY Why live like that? 16:26  |  Nicole 23/06/09
      45.   To all who commented on Natallie Durson`s post 03:52  |  Nechama 25/06/09
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