Israel's Diaspora Minister Meets with Austrian Far-Right Party Officials
A historic meeting between an Israeli minister and leaders of the Freedom Party signals a potential shift in diplomatic ties despite the party's historical roots.
By Amir Navarro ·
Israel’s Minister for Diaspora Affairs, Amichai Chikli, held his first official meeting this week with senior members of Austria’s far-right Freedom Party, known as the FPÖ. This encounter marks a notable warming in relations between the two sides, even though Israel has officially maintained a boycott of the party for many years due to its origins.
The political climate has shifted since September, when FPÖ chairman Herbert Kickl delivered a landmark address. During that speech, Kickl announced that the party would unanimously adopt the full International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism. He also described the events of October 7 as a crime against humanity rather than an act of resistance. Furthermore, he pledged that a government led by the FPÖ would relocate Austria’s embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar praised Kickl’s remarks at the time, stating they provided an opportunity for substantive and candid dialogue. Sa’ar also acknowledged Kickl’s apology to Austria’s Jewish citizens, including survivors and descendants of victims of Nazism. The FPÖ was established in 1956 by former Nazis, with its first leader holding a senior SS rank and his successor having served as an SS officer.
The party has historically oscillated between nationalist liberalism, far-right politics, and populist conservatism. It achieved a breakthrough in September 2024 by winning approximately 29% of the vote in Austria’s parliamentary election. Although Kickl attempted to form a coalition with the center-right People’s Party, those negotiations collapsed in February 2025. Israel’s long-standing hostility toward the FPÖ stems from its historical connections and the antisemitic associations of some affiliated members.
The official boycott began in 2000 when the FPÖ first entered the Austrian government, leading Israel to recall its ambassador. This diplomatic stance persisted through the party’s return to power in 2017, despite general relations between Israel and Austria being restored in 2003. On the eve of the Kristallnacht anniversary, Chikli and Likud member of the Knesset Ariel Kallner traveled to Austria for a visit led by FPÖ European Parliament member Harald Vilimsky, whom Chikli referred to as a friend.
During their time in Vienna, Chikli met with National Council President Walter Rosenkranz and Styria Governor Mario Kunasek, both of whom are FPÖ politicians. The itinerary concluded with a memorial ceremony at the synagogue in Graz, attended by Jewish community chairman Elie Rosen and other community members.
In his address at the Graz ceremony, Chikli observed that while Europe shows great respect for dead Jews, the attitude toward living Jews has not changed significantly in many parts of the continent. He criticized recent import sanctions in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Britain, noting that roughly 75% of the Netherlands’ Jewish population was murdered in the Holocaust. He described the growing voices denying Israel’s right to exist as a combined assault by Palestinian Islamo-Nazism and the progressive left.
Chikli argued that the Freedom Party and other conservative European parties represent the last chance for nation-states to prevent a slide into a post-national mishmash. He expressed deep gratitude to the FPÖ for emphasizing the Jewish people’s historical connection to Judea, Samaria, and Jerusalem. He called Kickl’s recent speech a historic turning point that broke a decades-long taboo in the relationship between Israel and the FPÖ.
Vilimsky reciprocated the warm sentiment, calling it an honor to host the minister in Austria. In recent years, Chikli has faced criticism from domestic and diaspora Jews for his close ties with far-right European figures. Last year, he invited leaders from far-right parties in Spain, Sweden, and the Netherlands to speak at a conference in Jerusalem. This new dynamic suggests that Israel’s longstanding boycott of the Austrian right may soon come to an end, though an official policy change remains uncertain as the country prepares for a new government.
