Ideological Alliance: How Netanyahu and the Western Far-Right Formed a United Front

As the war of extermination on Gaza enters its third year, a growing political and ideological alliance is emerging between the Israeli right, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and its counterparts in nationalist and populist movements in Europe and America, which until recently were considered symbols of anti-Semitism and neo-Nazism.

Netanyahu's accusations not only characterize the protests and boycotts by European Muslims as racist rhetoric, but also constitute direct incitement by far-right groups against citizens of different religions and ethnicities.

As a result, “Israel” has recently transformed from a historical victim of anti-Semitism into a strategic ally of these groups, based on anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim rhetoric.

In contrast, Palestine solidarity movements, including Palestinians in the diaspora, emphasize that their resistance is peaceful and opposed to the Israeli occupation, not based on any hostility toward Jews. This position is shared by progressive Jewish movements such as Jews for Peace and Not in Our Name.

In the long run, observers believe that “Israel” may realize that it has enthusiastically aligned itself with the European far-right, the true anti-Semites who do not believe in its right to exist, neither as a Jewish state nor as a civilized state that shares the values of the liberal West.

Hate Speech

Since Netanyahu's return to power in 2009, and the transformation of the right-wing Likud Party into an umbrella for extremist nationalist and settler movements, the Israeli-Western right-wing alliance has redefined anti-Semitism as a political tool to suppress voices critical of “Israel”.

Anti-Semitism no longer means hatred of Jews, but rather is reduced to hostility toward “Israel”. Thus, right-wing movements previously known for their hostility toward Jews have been able to reshape their image and enter into alliances with “Israel”, as long as they support “Tel Aviv” and attack Islam and immigrants.

Both sides share a discourse that portrays Islam as a threat to national and religious identity. “Israel” presents itself as a model of a strict state protecting its borders from Islamic terrorism, a model that the Western right seeks to emulate.

They also share a hostility toward the pro-Palestinian and pro-immigrant left, as well as a rejection of the values of pluralism and human rights.

In this shared discourse, the enemy is no longer racism or fascism, but the Islamic threat, reproducing stereotypes of Muslims as the threatening other.

Despite its two-year-long war crimes in Gaza, “Israel” continues to enjoy growing support from right-wing European nationalists.

In February, Likud joined the Patriots for Europe alliance as an observer, which also includes Austria's Freedom Party, which, since the days of its late leader Jorg Haider, was accused of glorifying Nazism but has recently shifted to supporting “Israel” in the face of radical Islam.

In addition to Hungary's Fidesz coalition, which previously promoted anti-Semitic conspiracies but now views “Israel” as a bulwark of Christian Europe, and the fascist-rooted Brothers of Italy, led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who supports “Israel” and attacks the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement.

This European coalition also includes France's National Rally, whose patron, Marine Le Pen, seeks to polish her image by allying with “Israel” despite her party's anti-Semitic past, the Alternative for Germany party, accused of glorifying Nazism, has begun to express clear support for “Tel Aviv.”

In addition, right-wing parties in Sweden, Denmark, and Finland, which have become more loyal to “Israel” despite their fascist past, are based on a hardline rhetoric against immigration and Islam and fully support “Israel”, viewing it as a model of a nation-state that defends its identity.

A report in L'Humanité suggests that Netanyahu’s growing relationship with Europe’s far-right parties is a calculated strategy to secure backing within the European Union for Israel’s policies.

On the other hand, during Donald Trump's first term in 2016, the US-“Israel” alliance was strengthened to an unprecedented degree by moving the embassy to Jerusalem, recognizing Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights, halting support for UNRWA, and encouraging Arab normalization.

This alliance has received support from evangelical movements and the far-right, who view “Israel” as a partner in a civilizational war against Islam and left-wing movements. 

Some US politicians have even recently expressed that supporting “Israel” is a religious and ideological duty.

Despite the absence of any formal alliances between the American far-right and the European far-right, the discourse between the two parties has remained consistent in supporting “Israel” and rejecting any criticism of its policies.

In contrast, Netanyahu attacks his critics on the political right in the U.S. as a wakeful Reich, comparing them to Nazis simply for questioning Israel's policies.

Some MAGA figures in the U.S. have recently questioned the merits of supporting Tel Aviv at the expense of taxpayers and national interests, as was the case with support for Ukraine, heightening Israel's concerns about potential isolation.

Racist Policies

Netanyahu uses rhetoric that equates Islam with terrorism, likening Hamas and other Palestinian factions to organizations like ISIS, Al-Qaeda, and the September 11 attacks. 

This rhetoric is seized upon by the Western right to justify his policies against immigrants from the Middle East.

Netanyahu, steeped in apartheid ideology, has begun making reckless accusations against religious groups, including European Muslims, in direct incitement that has not elicited any serious reactions.

This complicity increases the resentment of the growing European solidarity movement against Netanyahu's policies.

In this context, Islamophobia has become a common denominator for the right-wing alliance between “Israel” and the West.

“Israel” is presented as a model of a successful nation-state that uses force without hesitation, while Islam is viewed as an existential threat to Western identity.

While Israeli statements are used to justify racist policies in the West, the duality of normalization and incitement, as well as the fragility of the alliance, is evident.

While “Israel” normalizes its relations with Arab and Islamic regimes, it simultaneously contributes to fueling hate speech against Arabs and Muslims in the West, revealing a duality between peace with regimes and incitement against communities.

Such an alliance could have repercussions for Muslim and Arab communities, leading to increased censorship, skepticism, and harassment of Muslims and Arabs, an increase in hate crimes, and a restriction on freedom of expression and religion.

While solidarity with Palestine is criminalized in the West through laws that label criticism of “Israel” as anti-Semitism, educational and charitable institutions are also persecuted under the pretext of national security.

Despite its apparent cohesion, this right-wing Israeli-Western alliance is fragile under the pressure of numerous contradictions, including the persistence of cultural racism against Jews within Western movements themselves, the rejection of this alliance by progressive Jewish communities, political fluctuations that could quickly end these alliances, and growing popular awareness and rejection.

In any case, Netanyahu's alliance with the Western far-right is not an alliance of values, but rather one of interest. 

While this alliance temporarily serves both parties through anti-Muslim and anti-left rhetoric, it threatens pluralism and deepens social divisions.

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Ideological Alliance

In recent days, Israel's Minister of Diaspora Affairs and the Fight Against Antisemitism, Amichai Chikli, extended an invitation to British far-right extremist Tommy Robinson to visit “Israel”.

This invitation was not a diplomatic courtesy, but rather an explicit ideological embrace, with Chikli praising Robinson as a true friend of “Israel” and the Jewish people and a courageous leader on the front lines against radical Islam.

He pledged via X that they would cooperate to build stronger bridges of solidarity, fight terrorism, and defend Western civilization.

Robinson emphasized that he was not paid for his posts about “Israel” and that he is a good friend of “Israel”.

He has long been accused of seeking to weaponise a self-proclaimed role as an ally against antisemitism as a way of stoking anti-Muslim sentiment. 

In the past, he has been a member of the far-right British National party, which had historically been a political home for antisemites.

Jewish bodies in the UK and others have condemned Chikli's plan to host Robinson.

The Board of Deputies, a prominent pro-“Israel” advocate, described Robinson as a bully who represents the worst of Britain.

In a striking statement, the board accused Minister Chikli of ignoring the overwhelming majority of British Jews who categorically and consistently reject Robinson and everything he stands for.

Israel's embrace of Robinson is not an isolated act; it is an extension of Netanyahu's vision, which portrays Islam as a civilizational enemy of the West.

By allying itself with far-right figures, “Israel” is positioning itself at the forefront of Western civilization as the first line of defense against an imagined Islamist threat.

The consequences are already being felt. Just weeks ago, Robinson led an unprecedented racist march through the heart of London.

A disturbing video investigation by YouTuber Niko Omilana showed several marchers calling for the expulsion or killing of Muslims, while one of the keynote speakers declared from the podium: “Islam is our real enemy. We must get rid of Islam.”

Netanyahu has long fueled this logic, blaming the growing European criticism of “Israel” on its large Muslim population and claiming that Europe has been invaded by uncontrolled immigration.

Referring to Islam, he warned European leaders: “Don't feed the crocodile because it will come after you after it devours Israel.”

This rapprochement between “Israel” and the far-right is not a passing fad. In 2018, the Middle East Forum, known for its staunch support for “Israel”, admitted to funding Robinson’s legal defense and organizing the ‘Free Tommy’ demonstrations in London.

The forum's director, Gregg Roman, has served in the Israeli Defense and Foreign Ministries, while its president, Daniel Pipes, has been described by the Southern Poverty Law Center as an anti-Muslim activist.

Jewish leaders from across Europe boycotted the event in protest, but the Israeli right has chosen to make its new friends from the legacy of fascism.

Political analyst Ismail Moslemani told Al-Estiklal that “Netanyahu’s growing relationship with Europe’s far-right parties is a calculated strategy to secure backing within the European Union for Israel’s policies.”

“Israel's alliance with the Western far right does not reflect solidarity and trust, but rather is a dangerous strategy,” he noted.

“Netanyahu's attempt to use Islamophobia as a political weapon and protect Israel through demonizing Muslims could endanger Jews everywhere,” he added.

“Netanyahu believes that fueling Islamophobia across Europe will stifle global sympathy for Palestine, but in doing so, he is unleashing extremist forces that once preyed on Jews themselves,” he said.