BRUSSELS/VIENNA–Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will make a visit to Austria in two weeks, a member of the Austrian parliament told Wednesday a conference on antisemitism in the European parliament in Brussels.
Martin Engelberg, who is the first Jew to have been elected to the Austrian parliament, told the gathering of Jewish representatives from across Europe, organized by the European Jewish Association that Netanyahu will address in Vienna a conference on anti-Semitism and securing Jewish life in Europe.
Engelberg is a member of the Conservative Österreichische Volkspartei (OVP), the party of Chancellor Sebastian Kurz.
Netanyahu’s visit was later announced by Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz in Vienna. The Israeli Prime Minister will attend in the Austrian capital a summit on anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism, and have talks with Kurz. The event is scheduled for November 20-21 and is tied to the 80th anniversary of Kristallnacht, in a video message posted on Twitter, Kurz said: ”2018 is a special year of commemoration. We must always remember our historic responsibility and do everything in our power to fight all forms of anti-Semitism. On 20 – 21 November I will host in Vienna a “Conference on the fight against anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism.”
“As Federal Government of Austria and in the context of the current EU-Presidency we will be hosting a high level conference with the goal of jointly fighting against antisemitism and anti-Zionism in Europe on the 20th and 21st of November in Vienna.”
It will be the first visit to Austria by a Prime Minister of Israel in more than 40 years.
Israel enjoys a close relationship with Austria since Kurz became Chancellor despite the fact that the government coalition comprise ministers from the far-right Fredoom Party (FPO) which was founded by former Nazis.
Austrian Jews are staunchly opposed to the party, arguing that it has not done enough to distance itself from its anti-Semitic past and that it still promotes problematic positions.
Since FPOe’s rise to parliament in Austria’s 2017 election, Israel has maintained a policy of keeping official contact with the party at the civil service level only, avoiding any contact with ministers.
Netanyahu’s visit is particularly significant and important as Austria currently chairs the European Union presidency.
‘’The Chancellor has had strong words for the Jewish community and Israel since he came to power,’’ Martin Engelberg said.
He wants to use the Vienna conference to show his strong commitment to fight antisemitism and defend Jewish religious practices, he added.
Kurz visited Israel in June during which he vowed to advocate for Israel in Europe and reiterated his commitment to stamp out anti-Semitism, despite his alliance with FPOe.
“We will try to raise awareness in Europe for the special situation and the special security needs of Israel,” he said.
“We Austrians know that in light of our own history, we have a special responsibility toward Israel and the Jewish people,” he said ?. ‘’I can assure you that Austria will fight all forms of anti-Semitism in Europe with determination, be it still an existing one, or also newly imported anti-Semitism.”
“We also know that our responsibility does not end at our borders and to support the State of Israel and also your security situation,” Kurz said, adding that Israel’s “neighbors are not like ours, Liechtenstein or die Schweiz [Switzerland].”