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del.icio.us Digg It!  new Last update - 07:36 25/08/2007 Hungarian extreme right to swear in guards despite Jewish protests By DPA A controversial new Hungarian extreme-right national guard, condemned by Jewish organizations and the Hungarian government, Saturday prepared to swear in its members in Budapest. The creation of the Magyar Garda (Hungarian Guard) by the extreme-right party Jobbik has raised fears in the Jewish community both in Hungary and internationally. Advertisement Several Jewish organizations have asked Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany to act against the guard. Gyurcsany has condemned the group and has asked Chief Prosecutor Tamas Kovacs to be especially vigilant of it to ensure it does not violate the constitution. "The formation of the Magyar Garda is Hungary's shame," he said Friday. The Magyar Garda uniform will bear a medieval coat of arms associated with Hungary's Nazi-aligned Arrow Cross party which held power briefly during World War II. Some 56 members of Jobbik will be inducted during the ceremony at Budapest's Buda Castle, the historic seat of Hungarian royalty. Several organizations have announced counter-demonstrations across the capital city. While Jobbik has no parliamentary representation, main right wing opposition party Fidesz fought seats in many constituencies with Jobbik's support at the general elections in 2006. Jobbik members also last year took part in anti-government riots that followed the leak of a tape on which Gyurcsany admitted he had lied about the economy. The Hungarian Guard says on its website that it was formed because Hungary lacks "physical, mental or spiritual self-defence." Jobbik leader Gabor Vona said that several hundred people had applied to join the guard, but that he hoped numbers would swell to 1,000 by the end of the year. Conscripts will carry out physical, spiritual and intellectual training to help maintain public order, preserve Hungarian culture and defend the nation in extraordinary situations, the guard's charter says. Prior to the creation of the Hungarian Guard, Hungary's Jewish community had been warning that anti-Semitism was once again on the rise. Around half of the 200,000 Jews living in Budapest prior to the World War II perished during the conflict, many of them sent to concentration camps or lined up on the banks of the Danube and shot. In total, more than 400,000 Jews were sent to death camps from Hungary in 1944. Much of the butchery was carried out under the direction of the Arrow Cross. More Jewish World news and features Bookmark to del.icio.us A Palestinian gesture The top PA diplomat in Poland joined his Israeli counterpart on a visit to Auschwitz. Link to Temple found A controversial Temple Mount dig unearthed fragments from the First Temple.   1.   why not? 08:55  |  citizen of Meger 25/08/07   2.   1. blind 10:19  |  max 25/08/07   3.   Jews of Hungary, come home to Israel. This is home and this is 12:10  |  Rina 25/08/07   4.   EU moral duty - never ever 12:23  |  Jossi 25/08/07   5.   Come home to Israel, Jews of the Diasporah, come home. 14:14  |  Raaya 25/08/07   6.   Hungarian Rightists Rise 15:09  |  M.Agyar 25/08/07   7.   Nothing changes.Nyilas,Garda just the names 17:12  |  PETER.SM 25/08/07   8.   Why should Hungarians wonder us? Aren?t they Europeans? 17:24  |  afraid to reveal 25/08/07   9.   MEGER.What was your excuse before Israel? 17:32  |  PETER SM 25/08/07   10.   the new Hungarian Guards are not the terrorist "haganah" 17:58  |  nobodysacred 25/08/07   11.   People are tired of the jews...they (again) overstepped 18:03  |  Euro 25/08/07   12.   Hungarian Guards 19:24  |  ns 25/08/07   13.   No.1... 20:32  |  Sam 25/08/07   14.   nobodyscared and nobody there 21:36  |  Connie 25/08/07   15.   All Jews still remained in Hungary should come to 21:39  |  Dudu Ofir 25/08/07   16.   afraid to revea 21:57  |  Afraid to fart 25/08/07   17.   Right&wrong 22:25  |  jjvanka 25/08/07   18.   US support the NAZIS ??? 02:16  |  Gavirel 26/08/07   19.   Re: Jews of Hungary, come home to Israel ??? 02:24  |  Gavriel 26/08/07   20.   hatred by any name is still wrong 22:39  |  sandy 03/09/07   21.   Jews, the Hungarian Guard is not a threat to you 03:04  |  Ferenc 04/09/07   22.   If the Magyar Garda is not a problem, interview Dr. Donath Ferenc 22:14  |  Truth Approached 22/10/07

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