By Nitzan Horowitz
Policy Fellow at Mitvim – The Israeli Institute for Regional Foreign Policies
The coming out of the once low profile relations between far and extreme right wing movements and parties in Israel and Europe, is a source of serious concerns on both sides.
Initially it was done quietly, under the radar. In the recent years it has intensified and became public: a growing number of right-wing Israeli entities are strengthening their ties with far-right parties and movements in Europe. Israeli right-wing ministers and members of Knesset and parties officials openly meet with representatives of neo-fascist and extreme right wing and populist parties such as the “Flemish Interest” from Belgium, “Freedom Party” of Austria, “Freedom Party” of Holland, “People’s Party” from Denmark and even “Alternative for Germany” – the far-right party that now enters the German parliament for the first time.
This development is well reflected and echoed by the Israeli media – right wing media in particular but also the main stream media. It involves high profile and favorable coverage and interviews with European far-right leaders such as Heinz-Christian Strache from Austria, Geert Wilders from Holland or Marine Le Pen from France. The main focus of this rather intensive media coverage is the challenge both sides share fighting the “same enemy” i.e. “The Islamic threat”. In a well promoted interview on Israel’s main TV channel (Channel 2), just days before the French Presidential election, Mrs. Le Pen was even presented as “the leader of the French right”.
Officially, Israel still boycotts these movements. Not necessarily because the Israeli government today has a significant problem with these parties – generally they are quite similar to the Israeli government’s thinking. It is rather because of the violent history of the European far right, and particularly because of the strong opposition of the Jewish communities in Europe who fear the rise of fascists and anti-Semites.
The best example is the Jewish community in France – the largest Jewish community in Europe – who vehemently rejects any Israeli right wing political attempt to show support of Le Pen and her “front National”. This is a rare consensus among French Jews who usually differ deeply on political issues. A Likud (the ruling party in Israel) member of Knesset who voiced enthusiastic support for Le Pen on the eve of the French election, was quickly denounced by Israel’s President, Mr. Rivlin, who concluded that there is no room for any kind of Israeli ties with these extreme right wing elements, who are accused of antisemitism. Nevertheless, the relationships are cultivated, and the Israeli boycott is waning.
The far right in Europe needs Israel and Jews for a simple reason: to gain legitimacy. “Look,” they say to those who accuse them of racism and antisemitism, “even in Israel they support us.”
And what do Israeli right-wingers look for in these European parties? First of all, they truly identify with xenophobia, Islamophobia, and the anti-democratic approach, which drives the far right in Europe. From Israeli Right’s point of view, ties with the extreme right in Europe serve first and foremost internal political interests. Under the shell of utilitarian arguments, lies the core of the relationship, based on conservatism, social bullying, and racism. The political change that has taken place in Israel in the last generation shifts it from the side of universal values and perception of human and civil rights to the nationalist, ethnocentric, anti-social policy. There lies the extreme right, and there lies now, more and more so, the Israeli right, which has led Israel in recent years in the same direction.Beyond that, on a more practical level, they receive support for the settlements and the occupation of Palestinian territories that no other European entity is willing to give.
This is why more and more right-wing elements are cultivating ties with the fascists in Europe, while the latter take pride in having Israeli friends, clearing themselves of accusations of antisemitism They are so enthralled by each other, that it is no longer clear who is spreading the disease and who is infected by it.
This rapprochement is bad for Israel. The far right in Europe is boycotted by most European right and left-wing parties. Turning to the far right will not improve Israeli stand in Europe. It not only legitimizes those whose methods and ideas have caused the greatest harm to the Jewish people, but is also a severe blow to the Jews of today’s Europe. They look anxiously at efforts of racist movements in their countries to reproach Israel and urge it to reject these attempts.
For the Israeli right and the Israeli government under the leadership of the Right, the right path in the field of diplomacy public relations goes through the moderate political forces of Europe. This is the real challenge, because at the base, on the right and on the left, they are friends of Israel and have never turned their backs on Israel. The task should be to restore Israel's huge support in the past, especially among the Socialists and large moderate parties in the continent.
Israel is indeed being criticized repeatedly in the European arena. Not because of the European “hostile left”, but because of its policy. Nevertheless, its relations with Europe are good and branched. Therefore, the way to deal with pressures and objections is not by betraying Jewish heritage, Jewish communities, and democratic values, but by cooperating with Europe in an effort to renew the peace process and reduce friction with the Palestinians. This is the proven way to gain public sympathy, as well as significant political and economic fruits, certainly vis-a-vis the European Union that has already offered Israel extensive proposals in this context.
However, granting validity and legitimacy by Israel to the far right, which is still a marginal factor in European politics and is in a sharp conflict with the political establishment, is liable to cause substantial damage to the important relations with Europe. Much of Europe’s political argument against the far right is that its methods have already led the continent to a terrible disaster. If Israel, the state of the Jewish people, embraces parties that espouse xenophobia and discrimination, it could be seen as a “proof” that these parties have seemingly changed. This is precisely why they yearn for Israeli legitimacy, and why Israel must not grant it to them. This could seriously harm Israel’s standing. It would be an unforgivable move.