Israel’s antisemitism confab to start amid controversy over far-right invitees
Several high-profile figures will not appear at the Diaspora Ministry event, despite a compromise brokered by President Herzog
Zev Stub is the Times of Israel's Diaspora Affairs correspondent.
The Israeli government’s international conference on combating antisemitism is set to kick off at Jerusalem’s International Convention Center on Thursday, after the confab was thrown into the international spotlight last week over controversies related to its inclusion of far-right European politicians.
A number of high-profile figures said they would not appear at the event due to those politicians’ inclusion, among them Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt and French philosopher Bernard-Henri Levy, both originally slated to give keynote addresses, and British Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis.
Also staying away are UK government adviser on antisemitism Lord John Mann, veteran academic and activist David Hirsh, German antisemitism czar Felix Klein, and German politician Volker Beck.
They and others were concerned that the inclusion of members of right-wing parties from France, Spain, Sweden and Hungary would provide a kosher stamp for movements with histories of antisemitism, Holocaust denial, and racism.
The conference guest list includes Jordan Bardella, president of the far-right French National Rally party founded by noted antisemite and Holocaust denier Jean-Marie Le Pen; Marion Marechal, a far-right French member of the European Parliament and Le Pen’s granddaughter; Hermann Tertsch, a far-right Spanish member of the European Parliament; Charlie Weimers of the far-right Sweden Democrats party; and Kinga Gál, of Hungary’s Fidesz party.
Diaspora Minister Amichai Chikli, who organized the conference, has said that he sees Europe’s far-right parties as allies countering the rise of Muslim fundamentalism and antisemitism on the continent. However, his position has drawn the ire of many Jewish leaders in Europe.
“The official leadership of the Jewish communities in Europe is not engaging in dialogue with those far-right parties,” Conference of European Rabbis President Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt told The Times of Israel. “Certain portions of the Jewish communities in Holland and France have started to vote for these parties because they believe their anti-immigration policies will help provide more security against the 40 million Muslims who have arrived in Europe in recent years. I think they are much more talk than action, offering populist solutions that don’t give any real answers to the security problem.”
Last Wednesday, as anger over the conference controversy peaked, President Isaac Herzog offered a compromise to ease tensions: A gala dinner on Wednesday night before the conference was reconfigured as a private gathering for Jewish leaders only, without the presence of the right-wing figures.
“The people who need to be happy are happy with this plan,” a source involved with the planning told The Times of Israel.
Greenblatt, after canceling his participation in the conference, was expected to join the private meeting via video conference.
The conference will include appearances by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former US ambassador to Israel David Friedman, among other global leaders.
Argentine President Javier Milei, originally slated to attend, was forced to cancel his visit to Israel to tend to domestic issues.
Herzog has said he will not take part in Thursday’s confab, although his photo still appears on the conference website.
High-profile attendees who have confirmed their attendance include Natan Sharansky, chairman of the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy; Yemeni journalist and influencer Luai Ahmed; human rights activist Ayaan Hirsi Ali; US military expert John Spencer; Australian television presenter Erin Molan; and American actor Michael Rapaport.
The Times of Israel Community.