At any moment, British Prime Minister Theresa May could head for Buckingham Palace to ask the queen's approval to dissolve parliament and announce snap elections. This is not merely wild conjecture: May is having difficulty wrapping up negotiations with EU representatives on the terms of Britain's exit from the European Union. May, as you will recall, opposed Brexit, but the results of a referendum on the issue are binding. It seems unlikely that May will return to 10 Downing Street if snap elections are held. There is talk that younger Conservatives are attempting to oust her from her role as party leader.
This is a disturbing scenario for Israel, not only because May is pro-Israel but also because if she loses the elections, Labour Party Chairman Jeremy Corbyn, the anti-Semitic politician who rejected the full, internationally accepted definition of anti-Semitism, will most likely be elected to head the government in her place.
Corbyn has already announced that if he is elected prime minister, his government will recognize the State of Palestine. Waving Palestinian flags, delegates at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool where Corbyn made the announcement, responded to the news with applause. If this scenario does, in fact, play out, the Israeli government will face a serious dilemma. What will be the nature of U.K.-Israel ties with Corbyn as prime minister? Will Israel refuse to be the interlocutor of a bona fide anti-Semitic statesman who could quite possibly be the next leader of the British government?
Israel faces a similar, albeit much less serious dilemma in Brazil, following Jair Bolsonaro's recent victory in the country's presidential elections. Described by many as a radical right-wing politician, Bolsonaro is known for his support for Israel and has promised to transfer his country's embassy to Jerusalem. The Israeli media for its part has at times treated the friendship being forged between the Israeli government and the new leadership in Brazil with a hint of contempt and even hostility.
Bolsonaro has made rude and sometimes radical remarks that are not becoming of a civilized politician. He has also shown admiration for dictatorial rule and said he longs for the days of Brazil's military regime.
But the State of Israel cannot afford to cool its new relations with Brazil. Brazil is not Austria, which is governed by a coalition formed with the help of a party whose members are sympathetic to the Nazis. Israeli diplomats in Vienna are forbidden from having any contact with ministers from the country's far-right Freedom Party.
If the anti-Semitic Corbyn becomes Britain's prime minister, will Israel cool its relations with the U.K.? Britain is not Austria either. Would it be conceivable for an Israeli prime minister not to meet with a statesman in London who goes by the name of Jeremy Corbyn? The answer is clear.
Israel cannot adhere to a purist policy, not when it comes to its relations with Brazil, Britain, Austria, or even Hungary, for that matter.
