Israel ends official boycott of European far-right parties despite history of antisemitism allegations

Israel has announced that it will end an official boycott of several European far-right parties, despite some having a troubling history of antisemitism allegations.

The Jewish State will now established and maintain ties with France’s National Rally, the Sweden Democrats and Vox in Spain “as with any other political party”, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar announced.

Previously, the Israeli government had boycotted the parties due to their far-right policies and, in the case of the former two, lengthy histories of antisemitism allegations.

For instance, the National Front (the party from which National Rally emerged) was founded by Holocaust denier Jean-Marie Le Pen and was, until recently, led by his daughter, Marine.

Under new leader Jordan Bardella, the party remains opposed to the slaughter of animals without stunning (which is integral to both kosher and halal practices) and non-medical circumcision.

But Bruno Benjamin, a former president of the umbrella organisation for the Jewish community in France, Crif, told the JNS news agency that the decision was “inevitable” after National Rally “cleaned up its ranks”.

He pointed to the expulsion of dozens of party members for antisemitism and racism under the younger Le Pen, including the suspension of her own father after he called former French president Nicolas Sarkozy “foreign” due to his Greek, Hungarian and Jewish ancestry in 2011.

Benjamin added: “[National Rally] has done the work of cleaning up its ranks. It has stood up for Israel.

"Intuitively, Muslim voters have rallied around the left, which turned against Israel. The National Rally under its current leadership stood up for Israel, so this is natural.”

Likewise, the Sweden Democrats have consistently spoken in support of Israel but have struggled with antisemitism allegations and, like National Rally, opposes non-medical circumcision.

In 2016, Swedish Democrat MP Anna Hagwall was kicked out of the party after claiming that the Bonnier newspaper family, who are Jewish, owned 80% of the nation’s media, while in 2017, one of the party’s municipal candidates was expelled for purchasing Nazi memorabilia and posting a tribute to Adolf Hitler online.

A report from Swedish outlet Dagens ETC that year also alleged that 14 municipal representatives had given financial assistance to the Nordic Resistance Movement, a neo-nazi group whose ideology, according to the Anti-Defamation League, centers on “centers on antisemitism, so-called biological racism, reactionism (“traditionalism”), eco-fascism and conspiracy beliefs”.

However, Sa’ar suggested that the parties have reformed, citing their support for Israel and commitments to combatting antisemitism – for example, Swedish Democrat lawmakers in 2023 signed a document pledging to fight discrimination against Jews and held negotiations in the Knesset regarding a cooperation agreement with Prime Minister Netanyahu’s Likud Party.

He explained: “Part of these parties have bad roots. But we look at their deeds on the ground today.

"Do they denounce or ban party members with antisemitic statements? This is a substantial indication.

"After I reviewed the matter and heard the opinion of the professional level, I didn't see a reason not to [end the boycott].”