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Bernard-Henri Lévy and German officials withdraw from antisemitism conference as Israel invites far-right politicians
They withdraw after learning who is on Diaspora Minister Amichai Chikli’s guest list
March 16, 2025 13:34
They withdraw after learning who is on Diaspora Minister Amichai Chikli’s guest list
March 16, 2025 13:34French philosopher Bernard-Henri Lévy and two German officials have cancelled their participation in an Israeli government-organised conference on combating antisemitism, following concerns over the inclusion of far-right European figures on the guest list.
The event, scheduled for March 26 and 27, is being organised by Israel’s Diaspora Minister Amichai Chikli, who has faced criticism for his efforts to strengthen Israel’s ties with Europe’s far-right parties, which had previously been boycotted due to their associations with antisemitism and Nazism.
Last month, Chikli said there was “no more pathetic doormat” than Sir Keir Starmer after the British Prime Minister made no mention of Hamas in a statement about former hostage Eli Sharabi’s release from captivity.
Prominent far-right figures invited to the International Conference on Combating Antisemitism include Jordan Bardella, president of France’s far-right National Rally party; French MEP Marion Maréchal, a far-right Member of the European Parliament; and Hermann Tertsch, a far-right Spanish Member of the European Parliament.
Lévy, a renowned French public intellectual and staunch supporter of Israel, had been scheduled to deliver a keynote speech at the event.
However, he informed President Isaac Herzog that he would not attend due to the participation of far-right guests, he told Le Monde.
Felix Klein, the Federal Government Commissioner for Jewish Life in Germany and the Fight Against Antisemitism, “has decided not to attend,” his representatives told Haaretz.
“He was unaware of the other attendees when he accepted the invitation, and upon learning who the other speakers were, he decided to withdraw.”
Volker Beck, a former German Bundestag member, added his voice to the growing backlash, writing on social media: “If we associate ourselves with extreme right-wing forces, we discredit our common cause; it also goes against my personal convictions and will have a negative impact on our fight against antisemitism within our societies.”
Officials at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem, where the event is to be hosted, expressed surprise upon learning of the invitees. They told Haaretz they were “surprised to hear who the invitees were, as it was clarified that the purpose of the conference is combating antisemitism”.
They added they had not yet received the final guest list but would review it once it was available. The conference marks the first time members of Europe’s far-right have been invited to an official Israeli government event.
Chikli’s outspoken support for the European far-right has already attracted criticism.
In December, Romania’s Ambassador to Israel condemned Chikli after he held a phone conversation with Calin Georgescu, a Romanian presidential candidate who has praised Holocaust-era leaders responsible for the deaths of around 280,000 Jews.
French President Emmanuel Macron also raised concerns with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after Chikli endorsed National Rally leader Marine Le Pen in the recent French presidential election.
Bardella, who leads the National Rally, sought to distance his party from its antisemitic past. “My presence in Jerusalem for this major conference against antisemitism demonstrates our absolute commitment to this fight,” Bardella told Le Journal du Dimanche.
The conference will feature a tour of the West Bank, where, according to conference organisers, “participants shall explore the diverse aspects of life and coexistence in the region, delve into ancient biblical sites, and gain a comprehensive understanding of the region’s strategic importance”.
Other notable attendees include Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Argentine President Javier Milei, Anti-Defamation League head Jonathan Greenblatt, and evangelical leader Mike Evans.
No members of Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party have been invited, despite their significant gains in last month’s national elections, where they came second in the polls.