Netanyahu's European Far-Right Allies Offer Muted Support Amid Shifting Political Tides

Benjamin Netanyahu's overtures to far-right European politicians have been met with a mixed reception following the recent election, with some offering cautious congratulations and others remaining notably silent. Despite the political complexities in Israel, the underlying message is clear: Mr. Netanyahu remains a favored figure among Europe's far-right, though a growing sense of caution is evident.

Dutch far-right politician Geert Wilders expressed his congratulations via X, writing "CONGRATULATIONS BIBI" and calling it a "victory." Hungary's former prime minister, Viktor Orban, echoed this sentiment, stating that Mr. Netanyahu had "once again defied every prediction, beaten every model, and proven … critics wrong."

However, a significant number of Mr. Netanyahu's European allies, including France's potential future president, Marine Le Pen, have not commented. Ms. Le Pen has previously received support from Mr. Netanyahu, a relationship cultivated over years as she sought to distance her party from its anti-Semitic reputation. Mr. Orban was among the earliest to publicly back Benjamin Netanyahu after the Israeli election results.

The Israeli right has historically overlooked the anti-Semitic and Holocaust denial roots of some parties, such as Ms. Le Pen's, finding common ground in anti-Islam sentiments and a shared opposition to liberal leaders in Europe. Marek Matusiak of the Centre for Eastern Studies in Poland noted that "Anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim rhetoric is the narrow bridge on which both sides meet." Mr. Netanyahu has frequently supported his right-wing European counterparts, including sending warm messages to Mr. Orban and facing suspicions of Israeli intelligence interference in Slovenia's elections.

For European parties, reciprocating this support during Israel's election period could prove politically challenging. Eldar Mamedov, a former European diplomat, suggested that these populist parties "will say whatever is popular," and aligning too closely with Israeli politics might not be currently popular. In France, Ms. Le Pen's silence could be attributed to her upcoming presidential race. Jean-Yves Camus, an expert on the French far-right, pointed to the "radioactivity" of Mr. Netanyahu's more extremist allies, Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir, as a potential reason for caution. The National Rally, Ms. Le Pen's party, notably skipped a national conservative meeting in Jerusalem attended by prominent US and European conservatives in early October. Mr. Camus suggested that with the French presidential election approaching, the National Rally may have opted to avoid deep involvement in Israeli elections to prevent controversial social media imagery.

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), which has not forged the same level of ties with Israel, has also shown minimal interest in the Israeli election. Conferences such as National Conservatism in Brussels and Jerusalem have seen participation from right-wing European and Israeli politicians.

The far-right alliance began to solidify when Mr. Netanyahu's Likud party was accepted as an observer by the Patriots group in the European Parliament. Austria's Freedom Party, founded by a former SS brigade leader, celebrated this development as a "paradigm shift." Harald Vilimsky of the Freedom Party congratulated Likud on the election result, calling it a "clear rejection of the challengers," despite no single bloc securing a majority. Mr. Matusiak explained that strong ties with Israel help right-wing parties counter accusations of anti-Semitism, extremism, and nationalism, and distance themselves from problematic pasts. He also observed that the presence of European nationalists at anti-Semitism conferences in Jerusalem, despite some Jewish group boycotts, indicates the alliance is gaining momentum. Some right-wing politicians view Israel as an ethnostate model they wish to replicate in Europe, according to Mr. Mamedov.

For Israel, alliances in Brussels have been instrumental in thwarting pro-Palestinian initiatives. Hungary, under Mr. Orban, has vetoed EU sanctions, and Mr. Netanyahu reciprocated by praising Mr. Orban's "courage and wisdom" during Hungary's election campaign. Although Mr. Orban lost that election, Israel soon found a new ally in Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa, whose defeated opponent had alleged "foreign services" meddling in the vote, referencing a purported secret Israeli visit. Mr. Netanyahu's recent praise for Ms. Le Pen suggested improved relations with France if her National Rally party were to win the presidency. Ms. Le Pen's father, Jean-Marie Le Pen, who led the party for decades, has faced multiple convictions for Holocaust denial.

Recent revelations of decade-old anti-Semitic messages sent by Jordan Bardella, who is expected to be Ms. Le Pen's prime minister if elected, have surfaced. Mr. Bardella has defended himself by highlighting his positive relations with Israel and questioning the authenticity of the messages, though Mediapart reported having his Facebook message history verified by Meta. These messages have not seemingly impacted the party's standing among supporters, who recently removed a Mediapart reporter from a party meeting. Activists from the Union of Jewish Students of France were also ejected after protesting the party's history of anti-Semitism and racism.

Ms. Le Pen's stance has not always aligned with Mr. Netanyahu's. While she has condemned Hamas, she also stated in June that disarming the group was a step towards a "creation of a sovereign state" for Palestine, aligning with the French and EU's support for a two-state solution, a prospect Mr. Netanyahu opposes. Beyond France, some on Britain's right-wing fringe have become less supportive of the Israeli right due to its siding with Argentina over the Falkland Islands. Yair Netanyahu's assertion that the islands belonged to Argentina angered Rupert Lowe, leader of Restore Britain, who felt Mr. Netanyahu should focus on Israel's domestic issues. In Germany, when Chancellor Friedrich Merz suggested Israel was conducting the West's "dirty work" by bombing Iran, the far-right AfD took a contrary stance, criticizing Mr. Merz and cautioning against escalation.

Backing the German far-right remains a sensitive issue for Israel. Amichai Chikli, Israel's minister for combating anti-Semitism, previously described the AfD as hampered by "troubling" views on the Nazi era. However, he did not entirely close the door, characterizing AfD leader Alice Weidel as more reasonable. Mr. Matusiak anticipates that if the AfD continues its electoral success, official relations may eventually be established, provided the party refrains from making overtly offensive statements regarding the Holocaust or history. He believes such a development is likely "sooner or later" unless the AfD makes an "utterly outrageous" statement.