Israel’s Antisemitism Conference Draws Europe’s Far-Right Leaders, Sparking Boycotts

Controversial Guests: The conference featured leaders like Jordan Bardella of France's National Rally, Bosnian Serb President Milorad Dodik (despite facing calls for an international arrest warrant), and representatives from Spain's Vox and the Sweden Democrats.

High-Profile Boycotts: Disapproval of the guest list led to withdrawals from key figures, including Israeli President Isaac Herzog, UK Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis, UK government antisemitism advisor Lord Mann, ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt, and French philosopher Bernard-Henri Levy.

Divergent Blame: Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu focused blame for rising antisemitism on the "ultra-progressive left and radical Islam," particularly citing US campus protests. Far-right attendees like Bardella pointed towards migration and "Islamism" in Europe.

Shifting Alignments: The event underscores a complex and contentious shift, with Israel's current right-wing government fostering ties with European far-right movements, finding common ground in opposition to Islamism and shared nationalist views.

Why this matters: This situation reveals deep divisions on how to combat antisemitism effectively. Israel's outreach to the far-right risks alienating traditional allies and mainstream Jewish communities globally, while highlighting the complex interplay between geopolitics, historical memory, and the fight against prejudice. It raises critical questions about whether alliances with groups historically rooted in hate can genuinely serve the cause of fighting antisemitism.

Q: Why was the conference controversial?

A: It featured prominent European far-right leaders whose political parties have well-documented historical links to antisemitism, Holocaust denial, and Nazi collaboration, prompting widespread criticism and boycotts.

Q: What was the Israeli government's reasoning for the invitations?

A: The organizers view these far-right parties as potential allies sharing common ground against perceived threats from radical Islam and left-wing anti-Israel movements. They sought to build relationships amid increasing international isolation.

Q: Who were some of the key figures who boycotted the event?

A: Israeli President Isaac Herzog, UK Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis, ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt, UK antisemitism advisor Lord Mann, and French philosopher Bernard-Henri Levy were among those who declined to participate due to the controversial guest list.

The fight against antisemitism is complex and can become entangled in shifting political alliances and ideologies.

Current events are leading to unlikely and controversial partnerships between groups with historically opposing views.

It's crucial to consider the historical context and core ideologies of political movements, even as they attempt to rebrand themselves.

Recognize that different groups may identify and prioritize different sources of antisemitism (e.g., far-right, far-left, Islamist), leading to conflicting strategies.

AP News: Israel’s antisemitism conference draws Europe’s far-right leaders to Jerusalem