JERUSALEM —Israeli Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Benjamin Netanyahu maintains and will continue to maintain, direct contact with Austrian elected Chancellor, Sebastian Kurz, the Israeli foreign ministry spokesman said after the formation of a new coalition government in Vienna that includes ministers from the far-right Freedom Party (FPO).
On Monday, a statement issued by the Israeli government said that the State of Israel is maintaining its distance in dealing with the the far-right Freedom Party (FPO) in Austria’s new coalition government.
Freedom Party leader Heinz-Christian Strache has become Austria’s Vice-Chancellor, with his party taking control of the country’s foreign affairs, defense and interior ministries after being sworn in together with new Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, head of the conservative People’s Party (OVP.)
A Hebrew-language statement from Israel’s government said Monday in response to the new coalition that “Israel will maintain working relations with the professional echelon of the [Austrian] government ministries headed by a minister from the Freedom Party.
The Israeli Prime Minister has instructed the Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to carry out a professional review regarding the manner in which Israel will conduct itself vis-à-vis the new government.
‘’For the time being, Israel will maintain contact with the professional level of the government ministries in which Freedom Party ministers serve,’’ the foreign ministry spokesperson said.
‘’The State of Israel stresses its commitment to combat anti-Semitism and preserve the memory of the Holocaust,’’ the spokesperson added.