French, German officials opt out after Israel invites far right to antisemitism conference
Bernard-Henri Levy and Berlin’s antisemitism czar withdraw from this month’s Jerusalem event after learning who else is on Diaspora Minister Amichai Chikli’s guest list
French philosopher Bernard-Henri Levy and two German officials have canceled their participation in an Israeli government-organized conference on combating antisemitism at the end of the month after learning that far-right European figures have been invited.
The March 26-27 conference is being organized by Diaspora Minister Amichai Chikli, who has worked to strengthen Israel’s relationship with Europe’s far-right parties, which Israel had long boycotted due to their ties to antisemitism and Nazism.
Prominent far-right figures on the International Conference on Combating Antisemitism’s guest list include Jordan Bardella, president of the far-right French National Rally party; Marion Marechal, a far-right French Member of the European Parliament; and Hermann Tertsch, a far-right Spanish Member of the European Parliament.
Levy, one of France’s most prominent public intellectuals and a staunch defender of Israel, was scheduled to be a keynote speaker at the event. But he told the French daily Le Monde that he informed President Isaac Herzog that he would not attend because of the far-right guests.
Felix Klein, Germany’s antisemitism czar, told Haaretz he had been unaware of the guest list when he confirmed his attendance, and canceled after seeing who was slated to speak at the event.
Volker Beck, a former Bundestag member, also announced he would not attend, writing on X: “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, which is hosting the event, 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 that they had not yet received a guest list but would examine it once they did.
This is the first official Israeli government event to which members of Europe’s radical right have been invited.
Chikli’s outspoken support for the European far-right has drawn condemnation from European countries.
In December, Romania’s Ambassador to Israel condemned Chikli for holding a phone conversation with presidential candidate Calin Georgescu, who has praised Romanian leaders who oversaw the deaths of some 280,000 Jews during the Holocaust.
French President Emmanuel Macron complained to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about Chikli after he publicly endorsed the presidential candidacy of National Rally’s Marine Le Pen in the recent election.
The National Rally, currently led by Bardella, has made efforts in recent years to disassociate itself from its antisemitic origins. “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 is offering guests a tour of the West Bank, in which “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 Herzog, Netanyahu, Argentine President Javier Milei, Anti-Defamation League head Jonathan Greenblatt, and evangelist Mike Evans.
Notably, no members of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party were invited. The far-right faction made significant gains in last month’s national election, coming in second in the polls.
The Times of Israel Community.