Dutch leader Geert Wilders wrapped up a brief but significant visit to Israel on Tuesday, during which he received the prestigious Jabotinsky Prize for Liberty and met with top Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Wilders, whose Freedom Party recently emerged as the largest party in the Dutch parliament, reaffirmed his longtime support for Israel and visited strategic locations in the West Bank.

Wilders recalled volunteering in the West Bank during the 1980s in a post on X upon his arrival in Israel. He began Monday morning with a tour led by Yossi Dagan, head of the Samaria Regional Council, which included a strategic observation point along the security barrier overlooking the Samaria hills. During the observation point stop, Wilders stated, "Settlement in Judea and Samaria is not just historical justice, it's Israel's bulletproof vest. Without settlement in Judea, Samaria, and the Jordan Valley, it would be impossible to maintain the State of Israel."

Great meeting today in Jerusalem with my friend Bibi @netanyahu. pic.twitter.com/azL0PBjveg

— Geert Wilders (@geertwilderspvv) December 9, 2024

 He then traveled to Jerusalem for a series of diplomatic meetings with Prime Minister Netanyahu, President Isaac Herzog, Defense Minister Israel Katz, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, and Energy Minister Eli Cohen.

Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana presented Wilders with the Jabotinsky Prize for Liberty for his support of Israel during a ceremony held in the Knesset. Dagan, Ministers Amichai Chikli and Gila Gamliel, and other members of parliament attended the event.

During the ceremony, Wilders thanked his hosts for the award and said, "This is not the time to remain silent. This is the time to support Israel. If Israel falls to the forces of darkness, the West will be next."

"The main reason I am here is to show you that political leaders from Europe are not afraid to come here and say both here and in Europe that we will never abandon you and will always stand by your side. What drives the hatred for Israel? I fear it's the hatred of extreme Islamist fanatics. It's also the self-hatred of Western 'woke' individuals who no longer believe in fighting for truth." Wilders concluded his remarks in Hebrew, saying, "Thank you and Am Israel Chai."

Thank you my friend Speaker @AmirOhana and the Knesset for the most warm reception today in Jerusalem, #Israel. pic.twitter.com/L0ii5SqPww

— Geert Wilders (@geertwilderspvv) December 9, 2024

Knesset Speaker Ohana, who presented Wilders with the award, said it was a fitting gesture for he "has consistently supported our right to live in security and defend ourselves, and clearly opposed the antisemitic violence sweeping Europe. He understands the threat that extreme Islamist and antisemitic elements pose not just to Israel, but to the free world as a whole. He confronted the lies spread by institutions like the International Criminal Court that distort justice and encourage terrorism. Geert brings the same optimism that Trump brings – but to Europe."

Samaria Regional Council head Yossi Dagan said at the event: "I thank a true friend and true partner of the State of Israel – Geert Wilders. Your support is an important reminder of our unity and deep solidarity; we are together. Israel is in the midst of a war between civilization and a 3,000-year-old ancient world. On October 7, terrorists murdered residents of kibbutzim and called them 'settlers,' despite them not living in Judea and Samaria. From their perspective, it doesn't matter – they're all Jews. I want to tell you something new – for them, European citizens are also settlers! We are not the big enemy, European citizens are the big enemy. After October 7, we know better than ever – we must stand together against the common enemy, Europe and Israel must fight together."

Earlier in his political career, Wilders had been dubbed "Europe's Trump" by various media outlets and political analysts due to his populist rhetoric and controversial positions on immigration and Islam.

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The Dutch victory in the Euro quarter-finals against Turkey (2:1) caused mixed feelings in the Netherlands, as a significant portion of its population is of Turkish origin and supported their homeland during the game. Most of them were proud of President Erdogan's presence in the stands in Berlin during the game and defended his hono shortly after the final whistle.

The one who sparked a commotion, which might spill from social networks to the streets of Amsterdam and beyond, is the leader of the "Party for Freedom (PVV)", Geert Wilders, known for his right-wing views and disdain for immigrants. In these days of political changes across Europe, he might also lead the next government in the Netherlands as a prominent coalition member.

Wilders, who never hides his views and has experienced an assassination attempt in the past, posted a mocking tweet after the Dutch victory, in which he appears laughing and happy, facing a sad-looking Erdogan. The tweet caused many to rage against him, although he also received broad support, including Jews and Israelis. This was enough to awaken anti-Semitic sentiments.

#NEDvTUR #EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/LRjVB61Vtj

— Geert Wilders (@geertwilderspvv) July 7, 2024

"He is drowning in Jewish money," responded an Erdogan supporter, who posted an image showing Wilders with a kippah bearing the Star of David, next to an anonymous politician, seemingly Jewish, who appears to be urinating "shekels" on him via animation. Another Turkish user wrote: "It's no wonder Wilders stands on the evil side of the Jews." And in another response, the next threat already emerged: "The Turkish Empire will reach you soon," hinting that Muslims will conquer all of Europe.

"Although I am happy that the Netherlands won, despite being a proud Turk, don't associate all of us with Erdogan. Your tweet is childish and shameful," continued the criticisms. "It's a shame all you know is how to spread hate and divide," summed up another user on Wilders's tweet, who frequently repeats his public opinion that Islam is a dangerous religion.

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In a tweet posted on Sunday morning, Wilders said international attention on the contest had enabled him to make a point about the importance of freedom of speech.

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"Mission accomplished. End of contest," he wrote above a picture of what he said was the winning drawing, depicting an angry-looking man with a beard.

Images of the Prophet Muhammad are traditionally forbidden in Islam and considered idolatrous. Many observant Muslims regard caricatures of Muhammad as highly offensive.

Wilders canceled a similar contest in August last year after police arrested a man who had threatened to kill him over his plan.

At the time, plans to hold the contest also prompted large demonstrations in Pakistan and Wilders said he felt the danger of violence against innocent people was too great.

Wilders' anti-Islam Freedom party is the second largest in Dutch parliament, but is not part of the government.

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We begin our journey in Great Britain, where the third general election in the past four years is set to be held on Thursday. If we add the national Brexit referendum to the equation, it will be the country's fourth election in the past four years.

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Although the latest polls indicate a clear victory for the Boris Johnson-led Conservatives, it is far from certain that the people of Great Britain will awaken Friday morning with a stable Conservative-led government that will extricate them, at long last, from the European Union.

Johnson's rivals in Labour are promising a gigantic election surprise, and are basing their confidence on their perception of the atmosphere on the ground – which contradicts what the polls are predicting.

In Spain, the fourth general election in four years was conducted a month ago, without resolving the political impasse. The election winner, the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party, can establish a coalition with the far-left Podemos party – maybe – if it gets support from the Catalonian separatists, who are thus far reticent to provide it.

In Austria, after the corruption scandal attributed to the young conservative chancellor, Sebastian Kurz, the Austrians returned to the voting stations after a mere two years, which gave the right-wing bloc a solid majority. But Kurz decided he was interested in talks with the Green Party. If these negotiations are finalized in the coming days, it would mark an interesting precedent in Europe that could influence the political situations in other countries. In recent months, Austria has been managed by a "caretaker government of technocrats experts" appointed by the country's president.

In Germany, the broad coalition between the conservatives and socialist-democrats could collapse very soon and trigger early elections. In the wake of the previous election in 2017, a precedent was already established: Although the right-wing bloc won the majority, Chancellor Angela Merkel and the leaders of her conservative party have steadfastly refused to partner with the right-wing nationalist, populist Alternative for Germany party – which has prevented the establishment of a right-wing government. Efforts to form an initial coalition with the liberals and greens have failed. Fearing that the more extremist parties would benefit from another election, the two large parties agreed on a unity government, the shoddy foundations of which are currently being tested anew.

In Italy, the political deadlock led to the creation of an unstable coalition between the leftist-populist Five Star movement and the right-wing-populist Lega party, which lasted for less than two years. The socialist-democratic Democratic Party replaced Lega in the coalition. The new coalition is holding firm, but recent polls say Lega, headed by Matteo Salvini, is expected to win big in the next election.

In the Netherlands, a national unity government was established in 2017, 208 days after the fall of the right-wing government and after elections failed to determine a clear winner. Conservative Prime Minister Mark Rutte's refusal to cooperate with Geert Wilders, the leader of the nationalist-populist Party for Freedom, fostered the formation of a flimsy coalition between the conservatives and left-wing parties, which hasn't fallen apart as of yet.

Belgium, the current record holder, went 589 days between 2009 and 2011 without a government.

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