In a departure from Israel's traditional foreign policy, Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli has been quietly cultivating relationships with far-right parties across Europe, many of which have shown unprecedented support for Israel following the October 7 attacks.
Just a year ago, when senior members of Sweden's far-right Sweden Democrats party visited Israel, the Knesset's Foreign Affairs Department advised lawmakers against meeting them, and the Foreign Ministry, including its leadership, ignored their presence. Now, as right-wing parties gain strength across Europe and express strong support for post-October 7 Israel, it appears doors are opening for them in unexpected places.
While the Foreign Ministry maintains its policy of avoiding parties with neo-Nazi roots, Chikli has taken a different approach. He recently met with representatives of the Sweden Democrats in the Knesset, signaling a shift in engagement.
Operating largely under the radar of official foreign policy channels, including those overseen by Foreign Minister Israel Katz, Chikli has been weaving a network of connections with European right-wing parties since October 7. In recent months, he has visited France and Hungary and addressed an official conference of the national right-wing Vox party in Madrid. Last month, he traveled to the United States, meeting with several senators to bolster support for Israel. His future plans include visits to Portugal, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, and Mexico.
While one might welcome a change in Israel's diplomatic direction given the hostility from some European countries led by left-wing parties now pushing for recognition of a Palestinian state, this is not an official policy shift. The Foreign Ministry's official stance remains largely unchanged, viewing these parties as extreme and avoiding formal ties. However, Chikli has emerged as a new de facto foreign minister, consistently cultivating official government relationships with those who have become prominent supporters of Israel in its war against terrorism.
Chikli explains these new alliances to his social media followers, citing shared values in the fight against radical Islam, which he says is flooding Europe and seeking to destroy the Jewish state, as well as opposition to a nuclear Iran.
While one might welcome a change in Israel's diplomatic direction given the hostility from some European countries led by left-wing parties now pushing for recognition of a Palestinian state, this is not an official policy shift. The Foreign Ministry's official stance remains largely unchanged, viewing these parties as extreme and avoiding formal ties. However, Chikli has emerged as a new de facto foreign minister, consistently cultivating official government relationships with those who have become prominent supporters of Israel in its war against terrorism.
"October 7 became a trigger," unnamed sources in Chikli's office say, "and since then, the minister has devoted considerable time to pro-Israel foreign policy."
Chikli's Diaspora Affairs Ministry has absorbed the Ministry for Strategic Affairs, previously headed by Gilad Erdan, whose departments have since been shuffled between various ministries, primarily Foreign Affairs and Diaspora Affairs. The portion that landed in Chikli's lap includes the fight against Israel's delegitimization, which has transformed in the wake of the war into a struggle to strengthen Israel's legitimacy to defeat Hamas, and more.
Chikli finds a receptive audience among parties like Vox in Spain, Marine Le Pen's National Front in France, Viktor Orbán's government in Hungary, Geert Wilders in the Netherlands, the Conservatives in Britain, and many others.
Given the stance of governments in Ireland, Norway, the Netherlands, Spain, and others, it's understandable why Israel seeks to strengthen ties with those not only sympathetic but also showing signs of growing stronger across the European continent.
But is this official Israeli policy? Publicly, it seems not. In the Foreign Ministry, apart from a tweet by the current Foreign Minister, no change has occurred. It can be assumed that Netanyahu gave unofficial approval for this further division in Israel's foreign service, as previously only Knesset members and Likud party figures "risked" managing such relationships.
Now the foreign service suffers not only from the traditional split between Katz and Dermer (Netanyahu's) "US portfolio holder," but also creates a new head: Chikli – holder of the strengthening right-wing portfolio in Europe.
Alongside seeking new friends for the country, the Israeli minister also doesn't shy away from intervening in others' politics. "Winds of change!" Chikli was quoted earlier this month by a major European media network on the European Parliament elections. "It was a great evening for Europe and a turning point for Western civilization. The spirit of 'wokeness' that led to moral collapse is being replaced by a new but old spirit: conservatism. Even if the road is long – truth will prevail."
On the same day, Chikli didn't stop and tweeted against the Belgian prime minister, who displays a hostile approach to Israel in its war against Hamas and was caught on camera holding his head following the defeat in those elections.
"Belgian PM @alexanderdecroo cried yesterday when his party was defeated. Apparently supporting terror doesn't resonate with the Belgian people," Chikli tweeted. The next day, Chikli tweeted in favor of a British politician close to Trump who heads the UK's Reform Party, writing, "The violent attacks against @Nigel_Farage reinforce his argument – England is at a critical juncture with significant implications far beyond its borders: either surrender to the left and radical Islam or stand up and fight for the preservation of England's identity."
Is this official Israeli policy? Publicly, it seems not. In the Foreign Ministry, apart from a tweet by the current Foreign Minister, no change has occurred. It can be assumed that Netanyahu gave unofficial approval for this further division in Israel's foreign service, as previously only Knesset members and Likud party figures "risked" managing such relationships.
Beyond meetings, speeches, and tweets, Minister Chikli is also paving a direct connection to former Republican President Donald Trump's inner circle, and to heads of other countries where power shifts to the right side of the political map have already occurred.
Recently, he asked the former president's people for help in saving a Jew in our region who has been sentenced to death. While Chikli consistently denies the findings of a recent report that in the foreign media that his office manages an influence campaign on foreign soil, it seems that reality is not far from this, and not just in America. Without significant Israeli money but with a lot of attention, speeches, and a well-used diplomatic passport.
