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Anadolu Agency (AA): From Nazi founders to Netanyahu friends: Israel's new far-right allies

Summary

Farid Hafez, assistant teaching professor of international relations, wrote this opinion piece on Israel’s need for diplomatic support amid increasing international isolation over Gaza.

Full Description

"When Austria's Freedom Party (FPO) entered a government coalition in 2000, it became the first far-right party in the European Union to do so. Its notorious leader, the rhetorically gifted lawyer Jorg Haider, was denied entry to Israel, and an official boycott of the party has been in place ever since. The rationale was the FPO's history: in the words of political scientist Anton Pelinka, 'it was a party founded by former Nazis for former Nazis.' Haider and other high-ranking members also used antisemitic language throughout their careers. In 2000, Israel even recalled its ambassador from Vienna over the party's participation in government."

Read full opinion piece at aa.com.tr.