Netanyahu reminds new Austrian leader of fight against anti-Semitism

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has spoken with new Austrian leader Sebastian Kurz, reminding the right-wing leader of Vienna’s efforts to commemorate the Holocaust and combat hatred of Jews.

“Prime Minister Netanyahu praised Kurz for his elections victory and said that Austria has done much in recent years to preserve the memory of the Holocaust and fight anti-Semitism,” a statement from Netanyahu’s office reads.

Kurz’s People’s Party (OeVP) was projected to have won Sunday’s vote with 31.7 percent, ahead of the Social Democrats (SPOe) of incumbent Chancellor Christian Kern, who got 26.9%.

Snapping at their heels with 26% was the anti-immigration Freedom Party (FPOe), a party founded by Nazis and widely seen as harboring xenophobic and anti-Semitic elements.

Kurz has to form a coalition, and his most likely partner is seen as the FPOe and not a repeat of the acrimonious outgoing “grand coalition” with Kern’s SPOe.

Media reports indicate the two are already engaged in intensive behind-the-scene talks, with FPOe leader Heinz-Christian Strache, 48, demanding key ministerial positions.

Kurz told Netanyahu he looked forward to fostering ties with Israel. That task, though, may be complicated by FPOe’s presence in the government. Jerusalem has in the past boycotted FPOe officials who visit the country and recalled its ambassador the last time FPOe held a top government spot.

Netanyahu brought up “Iranian aggression” according to his office, and invited Kurz to visit, which the Austrian chancellor-to-be said he would do soon.

— with AFP