Does Chikli’s meeting with Austria’s FPÖ mark an end to Israel’s boycott of the Nazi-linked party?
The FPÖ's first leader, Anton Reinthaller, had been a senior Nazi official who held the rank of SS Brigadeführer, and his successor, Friedrich Peter, had served as an officer in an SS unit.
Israel's Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli met with top officials from Austria's far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ) this week, marking a significant development in relations between the two nations. This marks the first such encounter between an Israeli minister and senior representatives of the party, which Israel has officially boycotted due to its Nazi origins.
The meeting comes after FPÖ chairman Herbert Kickl gave a landmark speech in September, in which he adopted the full IHRA definition of antisemitism and stated that October 7 was a "crime against humanity, not resistance." Kickl also pledged that an FPÖ-led government would relocate Austria's embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar praised Kickl's remarks, viewing them as an opportunity for substantive dialogue.
The FPÖ, founded in 1956 by former Nazis, has moved between nationalist liberalism, far-right politics, and populist conservatism. After securing approximately 29% of the vote in the September 2024 election, coalition negotiations with the ÖVP collapsed in February 2025. Despite the party's Nazi roots, Israel has been warming its relations with the FPÖ.
Chikli's visit to Austria, coinciding with the anniversary of Kristallnacht, saw him visit the Austrian Parliament, meet with FPÖ politicians, and attend a Kristallnacht memorial ceremony in Graz. Chikli expressed concern over growing antisemitism in Europe and praised the FPÖ for adopting the IHRA definition and emphasizing the Jewish people's historical connection to Judea, Samaria, and Jerusalem.
The visit appears to signal a potential end to Israel's longstanding boycott of the FPÖ, though it remains uncertain if this will translate into an official policy change.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
