Israel welcomes Austrian far-right party leader’s Holocaust apology, Jerusalem embassy pledge
Jewish "security is the benchmark for the freedom of the entire republic," Austrian Freedom Party leader Herbert Kickl said
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar announced on Thursday that Israel viewed 'positively' Austrian Freedom Party (FPÖ) leader Herbert Kickl's speech in Strasbourg recognizing the suffering of the Jewish people at the hands of Nazism.
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The speech is particularly significant due to the FPÖ's founding by former Nazi Party and SS members as well as its ongoing connection to the Austrian far-right. The State of Israel has, until now, boycotted the party due to its historic Nazi roots and due to its far-right rhetoric.
Despite praising the speech, Sa'ar did not announce a change in Israeli state policy toward the party.
In the speech, Kickl apologized for Austria's role in the Holocaust and directly condemned the October 7 attacks and the rise in antisemitism in Europe. Jewish "security is the benchmark for the freedom of the entire republic," Kickl said.
Kickl also differentiated between Islamism and Muslims, saying that he did not want to make blanket statements about Muslims, while pointing the finger at uncontrolled migration as having brought Islamist movements and increased antisemitic attitudes into Europe.
He also recognized ‘the Jewish people's historic connection to Judea and Samaria’ and stated his intention to move Austria's embassy to Jerusalem.
Kickl also offered to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism.
The warming relations between the FPÖ and Israel appear to be driven by the close relationship between Netanyahu's Likud party and FPÖ MEP Harald Vilimsky. Vilimsky has been a frequent visitor to Israel and the West Bank in particular, having made two official trips this year.
While in Israel, he met with high-ranking members of Likud, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Michael Kleiner, president of the Likud Party's internal Supreme Court, and Transport Minister Miri Regev, consequently she spoke at the same conference in Strasbourg earlier in the day.
Vilimsky also met with the head of the Shomron Regional Council and Likud Party member Yossi Dagan while visiting Israel in June.