Back

»In early February, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party became an observer member of Patriots for Europe – a European alliance of far-right nationalist and populist parties.
The move comes amid a broader shift by the Israeli government toward establishing ties with far-right European parties that have long been boycotted by Israel due to their history of antisemitism and neo-Nazi affiliations.«

»It raises questions about Israel's evolving stance toward groups like Austria's Freedom Party, a member of the Patriots bloc, founded by a former SS general, and Germany's Alternative for Germany party, the AfD [...]
The AfD is deeply rooted in neo-Nazi culture, and Germany's Jewish community describes it having a "blatantly antisemitic ideology." The Freedom Party, in whose ranks antisemitic and neo-Nazi incidents occur with great regularity, has been described as "antisemitic to its core." «

»The Patriots for Europe alliance includes parties such as Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's Fidesz, Marine Le Pen's National Rally in France, Geert Wilders' Party for Freedom in the Netherlands and Spain's Vox, among others.

At their inaugural conference in Madrid last month, alliance leaders "warmly" welcomed Likud as an observer, citing "shared values."«

»Maya Sion-Tzidkiyahu, a leading Israeli scholar on European politics , sees Likud's move as "definitive proof that it is no longer a liberal party but an integral part of the extreme, illiberal populist right." She described the Patriots as "a front for Euroskeptics, anti-European, pro-Russian, anti-liberal-democratic forces that oppose the rule of law."
Likud's alignment with the Patriots reflects a broader thaw in Israel's ties with European parties once deemed political pariahs. «

»In early February, a few days before the Patriots conference in Madrid, Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana (Likud) and Yossi Dagan, a prominent settler leader and senior Likud activist, hosted European parliamentarians from the Patriots – all members of Spain's far-right Vox party.
Addressing his Spanish guests, Ohana declared, "Now is the time to restore Europe's greatness and fight alongside it." The delegation also met with Likud ministers Chikli, Avi Dichter and Miri Regev.«

»A spokesperson for Foreign Minister Sa'ar did not respond when asked whether Netanyahu adviser Bulshtein's open discussions with the Freedom Party violate Israel's long-standing policy of boycotting the party. Likud has also refused to comment on its stance regarding formal ties with the Freedom Party and the AfD, or whether Netanyahu approved his party's decision to join the Patriots.«

»Meanwhile, Chikli, who has positioned himself as the government's unofficial far-right engagement portfolio manager, has signaled his interest in establishing relations with the AfD. He stated that the group's co-leader, Alice Weidel, is "easy to connect with," describing her worldview as representing "a healthy liberal patriotism, responsible immigration policies, and a clear-eyed view of the dangers of radical Islam."«

»Orbán has previously acknowledged that the AfD was excluded from the Patriots due to a veto by Le Pen, who is seen as attempting to soften her party's image. However, ahead of the German elections, Orbán hosted Weidel in Budapest. He declared that "the AfD is the future" and should be included in Germany's next coalition, effectively calling to end the boycott of it.«

»It will be interesting to see if, after the AfD's gains, Orbán will push to include them in the Patriots – and whether Le Pen will still oppose it," said analyst Sion-Tzidkiyahu. "This could be problematic for Likud, as the AfD remains outside the Israeli Foreign Ministry consensus," she added.«

»For Austria's Freedom Party, Likud's entry into the Patriots was a long-pursued stamp of legitimacy from the Jewish state and its prime minister. The party's European delegation leader Vilimsky called Likud's entry into the Patriots a "paradigm shift" that gives Austria's far right "a new boost in international significance and acceptance."«

»Citing Netanyahu, party leader Herbert Kickl wrote that the move showed that the "myth of international isolation" surrounding his party "is falling apart." He added: "We are aware that this cooperation does not sit well with some," punctuating his statement with a winking emoji.
Founded in 1955 by a former SS general, the Freedom Party combines neoliberal economic policies with cultural conservatism and hard-line nationalism. «

»At the Patriots conference in Madrid, Vilimsky revealed he'd had a "lengthy" conversation with Likud's Bulshtein, posting a picture of them together. Vilimsky said the Likud envoy "assured full support for the Patriots," and disclosed that he'd also held previously unreported talks with Israel's transportation minister, Miri Regev, in Budapest last year.«

Vilimsky noted that the alliance with Likud highlighted the differences between Austria's Jewish community and Likud, saying: "While the official body of Jewish Orthodox communities in Austria still refuses any contact with us, that is not the case with Israel's leading government circles – quite the opposite."

»The only political figures from Europe to speak at the conference will be from the far right, mostly members of the Patriots for Europe.
A keynote speaker will be France's National Rally President Jordan Bardella. Le Pen's niece, European Parliament MP Marion Maréchal, who openly believes in the Great Replacement conspiracy theory, will also be present. This will mark the first time member of France's far-right parties have been invited to Israel by its government.«

»Other speakers will include Vox politician Hermann Tertsch, who is vice president of the Patriots for Europe, and Swedish Democrats' Charlie Weimers, vice chairman of the European Conservatives and Reformists Group. Representatives from Orbán and Wilders' parties will also participate.
The presence of members of the AfD and National Rally has led Germany's antisemitism czar, Felix Klein, to cancel his previously announced participation.«

»The conference, which will also be addressed by Israeli President Isaac Herzog alongside Netanyahu, will feature topics such as "Anti-Israel Bias in International Institutions," "Antisemitism in the Palestinian Authority and the Muslim Brotherhood," "Double Standards, from the Battlefield to the ICC," "Radical Islamist Antisemitism," "Denial, from the Holocaust to October 7," and "When Progressivism Turns Hostile: Antisemitism in Academic Discourse."«

»There is no explicit mention of right-wing antisemitism or neo-Nazi violence against Jews on the conference's agenda.
Invited guests will also be offered a tour of "Judea and Samaria" for a "remarkable journey through the captivating communities" in the West Bank, with participants able to "delve into ancient biblical sites and gain a comprehensive understanding of the region's strategic importance."«

@stephie_hamburg Wieso ich plötzlich diese Wikipedia-Seite aufschlagen musste? Ich weiß es auch nicht...

https://de.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erdmagnetfeld#Polsprung