Austria's Support For Israel: A Complex Relationship

Austria and Israel have had a close relationship since Austria recognized Israel as a state in 1949. In 2023, Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg announced that the two countries had entered into a strategic, extremely close relationship that could no longer be undone. Austria has been described as one of the most pro-Israel countries in the European Union. However, this stance has drawn criticism from activists who accuse the Austrian government of abandoning its long-held neutrality and providing unconditional support to Israel, even in the face of alleged war crimes and civilian deaths.

Austria's ruling coalition has positioned the country as one of the most pro-Israel members of the EU

Historically, Austria and Israel have had a complex relationship due to their shared history regarding the Holocaust and the presence of a significant Jewish population in Austria. After the founding of Israel in 1948, Austria recognized the new state in 1949 and established diplomatic relations in 1956. However, relations were strained at times, such as during the Waldheim affair in the 1980s and the participation of the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) in the coalition government in 2000, which led to Israel recalling its ambassador.

Despite these tensions, Austria and Israel have maintained close ties, and Austria is considered one of the most pro-Israeli countries within the EU. In recent years, Austria has taken a more active role in supporting Israel, including through its participation in the 2023 Israel-Hamas conflict. Austria's ruling coalition, led by the OVP, has positioned the country as a strong ally of Israel, even as other EU members have taken a more neutral stance.

The shift in Austria's position began during the OVP's previous coalition with the far-right Freedom Party, which has since renounced its anti-Semitic past. However, Austria's main Jewish group argues that the party has not done enough to distance itself from its previous stance and refuses to interact with it. Nonetheless, the OVP-led government has made a concerted effort to align with Israel, as evidenced by their recent actions and statements.

Austria's support for Israel has been criticized by some, including Austrian writer and activist Wilhelm Langthaler, who accused the government of abandoning its long-held policy of neutrality and turning a blind eye to civilian deaths in Gaza. Langthaler and other critics argue that Austria's unconditional support for Israel goes against the principle of neutrality and has contributed to the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Despite these criticisms, Austria's ruling coalition has maintained its pro-Israel stance, positioning the country as one of the most vocal supporters of Israel within the EU.

Austrian writer and activist Wilhelm Langthaler criticised the government for its unconditional support of Israel

Austrian writer and activist Wilhelm Langthaler has criticised the Austrian government for its unconditional support of Israel, accusing it of turning a blind eye to civilian deaths caused by Israeli military strikes in Gaza. Langthaler told Anadolu Agency that the Austrian government abandoned its long-held policy of neutrality and increased pressure on rights groups supporting Palestinians.

He said:

> The government first displayed the Israeli flag on public buildings. It was an indication that it would be supporting everything Israel does, its war crimes. It gave a blank check to Israel.

Langthaler also criticised the Austrian government for voting against a UN General Assembly resolution calling for an immediate humanitarian truce. He said:

> Such a thing has never happened in the history of Austria. Because the principle of neutrality requires remaining neutral. But here in this conflict, it’s displaying a one-sided and an unprecedentedly aggressive attitude.

In addition, Langthaler condemned the Austrian government for banning planned protests in support of the Palestinian people. He argued that the Austrian government falsely labelled the Palestinian slogan, "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free", as anti-Semitic and advocating violence. He countered that Israel has built an apartheid state, where only Jews have full rights, while Palestinians are oppressed.

Langthaler emphasised that Austrian authorities imposed restrictions and banned several pro-Palestinian protests without legal grounds, aiming to silence Palestinian voices. He stressed the urgency of the situation, with a significant toll of civilian deaths in the Israeli bombardments in the Gaza Strip.

Austria has been accused of turning a blind eye to civilian deaths in Gaza

Langthaler also took issue with the Austrian government's vote against a UN General Assembly resolution calling for an immediate humanitarian truce. He claimed that this displayed a one-sided and aggressive attitude from Austria, contrary to its principle of neutrality. Furthermore, Langthaler criticised the government for banning planned protests in support of the Palestinian people and restricting the activities of rights groups supporting Palestinians. He argued that the Austrian government was trying to silence Palestinians and falsely accusing them of antisemitism.

According to Langthaler, the Austrian authorities imposed restrictions and banned several pro-Palestinian protests without any legal grounds. He stressed that Palestinians are standing up against genocide, but the authorities do not want their voices to be heard. Langthaler provided casualty figures to support his claims, stating that since October 7, Israeli bombardments in the Gaza Strip had killed at least 9,770 Palestinians, including a significant number of children and women.

In response to Hamas attacks, the Austrian Foreign Minister, Alexander Schallenberg, announced the suspension of aid to Palestinians in October 2023. Schallenberg did not distinguish between Gaza, ruled by Hamas, and the West Bank, run by the Palestinian Authority. This decision was made in the context of a deadly Hamas attack on Israel, which prompted Israel to retaliate with heavy bombardment of Gaza, resulting in civilian casualties.

Austria suspended aid to Palestine in 2023, but later resumed it

Austria's relationship with Israel has been described as "strategic and extremely close" by Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg in 2023. The country has been regarded as one of the most pro-Israel members of the European Union in recent years. This stance was demonstrated when Austria suspended aid to Palestine in 2023, following an attack by the Islamist group Hamas on Israel. The Austrian government cited the need to review its financial support to ensure funds were not being used to promote or fund terrorism. The suspension was also influenced by the country's adoption of a more pro-Israel position within the EU.

The Austrian Foreign Minister, Alexander Schallenberg, announced the suspension of approximately 19 million euros ($20 million) in aid to Palestine, affecting several projects. This decision was made in response to the Hamas attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 700 Israelis and the abduction of dozens more. Austria's ruling conservative coalition, led by the People's Party (OVP), has been an advocate for Israel within the EU, even hoisting the Israeli flag above the chancellor's office and the Foreign Ministry.

However, it is important to note that Austria's initial decision to suspend aid to Palestine was not without criticism. The European Union and neighbouring Germany reviewed their aid policies towards Palestine and chose to continue their assistance. The Austrian government faced opposition from within the country as well, with Austrian writer and activist Wilhelm Langthaler criticising the government for abandoning neutrality and increasing pressure on rights groups supporting Palestinians.

Despite the initial suspension, Austria later resumed its aid to Palestine in December 2023. Following a review, the Austrian Foreign Ministry stated that there was no indication that Austrian-funded development projects were misused to fund or promote terrorism or spread anti-Semitic content. The review examined nine projects with a total value of 17.5 million euros ($18.8 million). However, it is unclear how much of this funding was allocated to the West Bank, controlled by the Palestinian Authority, or to Gaza, ruled by Hamas.

The resumption of aid by Austria highlights a shift back to neutrality in the conflict, ensuring that humanitarian support reaches those in need. This decision was made amidst warnings from aid agencies about the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where the majority of the 2.3 million residents are homeless and lack access to basic necessities like food, water, medical care, fuel, and secure shelter.

Austria recognised Israel in 1949 and established diplomatic relations in 1956

Austria and Israel have had a complex relationship since the latter's founding in 1948. This is partly due to the fact that many prominent Nazis, including Adolf Hitler, were Austrian. However, the founder of Zionism, Theodor Herzl, also lived in Austria-Hungary, and many Israelis are descendants of Austrian Jews.

Austria recognised Israel on 5 March 1949, less than a year after the Jewish state declared independence. In the same year, Austria granted Israel a loan of 50 million shillings and transferred the remains of Theodor Herzl to Israel. This laid the foundation for the subsequent establishment of consular relations between the two countries and the de jure recognition of Israel by Austria in the spring of 1950.

In September 1952, Israel and Austria reached an agreement regarding Austrian reparations for World War II, and Israel waived all claims in return for a further trade credit of 100 million shillings. This was followed by negotiations on compensation for persecuted and expropriated Austrian Jews, which were concluded in July 1955. Shortly before this, Austria had committed itself to foreign policy neutrality in the Austrian State Treaty and regained its sovereignty. Israel recognised this, and on 2 February 1956, the Austrian government announced the establishment of diplomatic relations with Israel.

The relationship between the two countries has had its ups and downs since then. In the 1970s, Austrian Chancellor Bruno Kreisky sought a role as a mediator in the Middle East conflict and called for a Palestinian state, which caused disputes with Israel. Relations were further strained in the 1980s by the Waldheim affair and again in 2000 by the first participation of the FPÖ in the government. However, the two countries became close allies after 2003, and in 2023, Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg announced that the countries had entered into a strategic, extremely close relationship that could no longer be undone. Within the EU, Austria is considered one of the most pro-Israeli countries.

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