Israel says it work with the new Austrian government “for the moment,” but would limit contacts with ministries run by the far-right Freedom Party (FPOe) to civil servants.
A government statement says Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who also holds the foreign affairs portfolio, is in “direct contact” with Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz of the conservative People’s Party (OeVP).
It says Netanyahu had instructed the foreign ministry to draw up guidelines on how the Jewish state would “conduct itself” in its dealings with the new ruling coalition in Vienna.
“For the moment, Israel will maintain working relations with the professional echelon of the government ministries headed by a minister from the Freedom Party,” the Hebrew-language statement adds.
Founded by former Nazis, the FPOe is set to take control of the important Interior, Defense and Foreign Ministries.
“The state of Israel wishes to emphasize its absolute commitment to the struggle against anti-Semitism and commemoration of the Holocaust,” the statement says.
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