Austria's Complex History With Israel: A Political Overview

Austria's support for Israel is driven by a quest for historic redemption and economic opportunity. Austria has a long history of antisemitism, and built its postwar national identity around projecting neutrality on the world stage. After forming a government with the Freedom Party in 2017, which has a long history of trafficking in antisemitic tropes, then-Chancellor Sebastian Kurz was eager to reassure Israel and the international community that Austria was not reverting to its old ways. Austria has supported the peace agreement between Israel and Egypt in 1979, the first between Israel and an Arab state.

Support for Israel's right to defend itself against Hamas terrorism

Austria stands in solidarity with Israel in its fight against terrorism and supports Israel's right to defend itself against the barbaric attacks of the terrorist organization Hamas. The Middle East is traditionally a focus area of Austrian foreign policy interest, and comprises Israel and its neighbours: the Palestinians, Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon. From the start, Austria has supported the peace agreement between Israel and Egypt in 1979, the first between Israel and an Arab state. A peace treaty between Israel and Jordan followed in 1994.

Austria took up diplomatic relations with Israel already in 1956, one year after the conclusion of the Austrian State Treaty. Conscious of the necessity of a solution to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians in a peaceful way, Austria has also established early relations with the Palestinians. In 1980, the PLO (Palestine Liberation Organisation) mission to the international organizations in Vienna was also accredited bilaterally to Austria. In 1998, Austria opened a Representative Office in Ramallah. Austria does not recognize Palestine as a state bilaterally, but supports a negotiated two-state solution in the Middle East Peace Process. Austrian relations with Jordan and Lebanon are traditionally friendly and good. Over the past years, Austria supported both countries especially with regard to providing for the high numbers of Syrian refugees.

The support for Israel is a stark departure for a country that built its postwar national identity around projecting neutrality on the world stage. What triggered the change in earnest was political necessity. After deciding to form a government in 2017 with the Freedom Party, which has a long history of trafficking in antisemitic tropes, then-Chancellor Sebastian Kurz was eager to reassure Israel and the international community that Austria was not reverting to its old ways.

A quest for historic redemption and economic opportunity drives Austria closer to Israel. It came as a surprise for many in Israel to find Austria standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the Jewish state. As voting got underway at the United Nations on October 27 on a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, it was clear that Israel, which opposed the measure, faced an uphill battle. Shortly before the tally, countries Israel counted among its closest allies, including Germany and Canada, jumped ship, fearing a backlash if they rejected the resolution.

Austria called for the UN General Assembly resolution on the situation in the Middle East to unequivocally condemn the atrocities against innocent civilians on October 7th and name the responsible terrorist organization Hamas. Furthermore, the UN resolution should have included a demand for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages to be credible. The resolution also did not acknowledge Israel's internationally recognized right to self-defense in the face of the inhumane and ongoing acts of terror by Hamas.

Peace agreement with Israel and Egypt in 1979

The Camp David Accords, signed by President Jimmy Carter, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin in September 1978, established a framework for a historic peace treaty concluded between Israel and Egypt in March 1979. The treaty was signed in Washington, D.C., United States, and it ended three decades of hostilities between Egypt and Israel and established diplomatic and commercial ties.

The main features of the treaty were mutual recognition, cessation of the state of war that had existed since the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, normalization of relations, and the withdrawal by Israel of its armed forces and civilians from the Sinai Peninsula, which Israel had captured during the Six-Day War in 1967. Egypt agreed to leave the Sinai Peninsula demilitarized.

The treaty was signed 16 months after Egyptian president Anwar Sadat's visit to Israel in 1977, after intense negotiations. Sadat's visit, in which he met with Begin and spoke before Israel’s parliament, was met with outrage in most of the Arab world. Despite criticism from Egypt’s regional allies, Sadat continued to pursue peace with Begin, and in September 1978 the two leaders met again in the United States, where they negotiated an agreement with U.S. President Jimmy Carter at Camp David, Maryland.

The treaty was a significant step towards peace in the Middle East and marked the first time that Israel had made peace with one of its Arab neighbors. It was a major achievement for President Carter and the U.S. government, who played a leading role in creating the opportunity for this agreement to occur. The treaty was also a significant moment in the history of Egypt and Israel, as it marked the end of decades of conflict and the beginning of a new era of peace and cooperation between the two countries.

Support for a negotiated two-state solution in the Middle East Peace Process

Austria has a long-standing relationship with the Middle East, and has been a supporter of the peace agreement between Israel and Egypt since 1979. In 1994, a peace treaty was signed between Israel and Jordan. In 1956, Austria took up diplomatic relations with Israel.

The Middle East Peace Process is a key area of Austrian foreign policy interest. The country has a strong relationship with Israel, and supports the Jewish state's right to defend itself against terrorism. In October 2023, Austria called for the UN General Assembly resolution on the situation in the Middle East to unequivocally condemn the atrocities against innocent civilians on October 7th and name the responsible terrorist organization Hamas. The resolution should have included a demand for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.

Austria has also established early relations with the Palestinians. In 1980, the PLO (Palestine Liberation Organisation) mission to the international organizations in Vienna was also accredited bilaterally to Austria. In 1998, Austria opened a Representative Office in Ramallah. However, Austria does not recognize Palestine as a state bilaterally, but supports a negotiated two-state solution in the Middle East Peace Process.

The country's support for Israel is driven by a quest for historic redemption and economic opportunity. The relationship between the two countries is extremely close and strategic. This is a stark departure from Austria's postwar national identity, which was built around projecting neutrality on the world stage. The change in Austria's stance was triggered by political necessity. After deciding to form a government in 2017 with the Freedom Party, which has a long history of trafficking in antisemitic tropes, then-Chancellor Sebastian Kurz was eager to reassure Israel and the international community that Austria was not reverting to its old ways.

Strategic relationship with Israel as a true friend

Austria has a strategic relationship with Israel that is based on solidarity and historical and economic opportunities. After the conclusion of the Austrian State Treaty, Austria took up diplomatic relations with Israel in 1956. The Middle East is traditionally a focus area of Austrian foreign policy interest, and comprises Israel and its neighbours: the Palestinians, Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon. From the start, Austria has supported the peace agreement between Israel and Egypt in 1979, the first between Israel and an Arab state. A peace treaty between Israel and Jordan followed in 1994.

Conscious of the necessity of a solution to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians in a peaceful way, Austria has also established early relations with the Palestinians. In 1980, the PLO (Palestine Liberation Organisation) mission to the international organisations in Vienna was also accredited bilaterally to Austria. In 1998, Austria opened a Representative Office in Ramallah. Austria does not recognise Palestine as a state bilaterally, but supports a negotiated two-state solution in the Middle East Peace Process. Austrian relations with Jordan and Lebanon are traditionally friendly and good. Over the past years, Austria supported both countries especially with regard to providing for the high numbers of Syrian refugees.

After deciding to form a government in 2017 with the Freedom Party, which has a long history of trafficking in antisemitic tropes, then-Chancellor Sebastian Kurz was eager to reassure Israel and the international community that Austria was not reverting to its old ways. Austria stands in solidarity with Israel in its fight against terrorism and supports Israel's right to defend itself against the barbaric attacks of the terrorist organisation Hamas in accordance with international humanitarian law. Austria called for the UN General Assembly resolution on the situation in the Middle East to unequivocally condemn the atrocities against innocent civilians on October 7th and name the responsible terrorist organisation Hamas. Furthermore, the UN resolution should have included a demand for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages to be credible. The resolution also did not acknowledge Israel's internationally recognised right to self-defence in the face of the inhumane and ongoing acts of terror by Hamas.

A quest for historic redemption and economic opportunity drives Austria closer to Israel. It came as a surprise for many in Israel to find Austria standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the Jewish state. As voting got underway at the United Nations on October 27 on a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, it was clear that Israel, which opposed the measure, faced an uphill battle. Shortly before the tally, countries Israel counted among its closest allies, including Germany and Canada, jumped ship, fearing a backlash if they rejected the resolution. Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg said, “We have entered into a strategic, extremely close relationship with Israel that can’t be reversed.” Vienna’s overt support for Israel is a stark departure for a country that built its postwar national identity around projecting neutrality on the world stage.

Historic redemption and economic opportunity in Israel

Austria's support for Israel is driven by a quest for historic redemption and economic opportunity.

After the Second World War, Austria built its postwar national identity around projecting neutrality on the world stage. However, the Middle East is traditionally a focus area of Austrian foreign policy interest. Austria supported the peace agreement between Israel and Egypt in 1979, the first between Israel and an Arab state. A peace treaty between Israel and Jordan followed in 1994.

In 1980, the PLO (Palestine Liberation Organisation) mission to the international organizations in Vienna was also accredited bilaterally to Austria. In 1998, Austria opened a Representative Office in Ramallah. Austria does not recognize Palestine as a state bilaterally, but supports a negotiated two-state solution in the Middle East Peace Process.

In 2017, then-Chancellor Sebastian Kurz was eager to reassure Israel and the international community that Austria was not reverting to its old ways after deciding to form a government with the Freedom Party, which has a long history of trafficking in antisemitic tropes.

In October 2023, Austria stood in solidarity with Israel in its fight against terrorism and supported Israel's right to defend itself against the barbaric attacks of the terrorist organization Hamas in accordance with international humanitarian law. Austria called for the UN General Assembly resolution on the situation in the Middle East to unequivocally condemn the atrocities against innocent civilians on October 7th and name the responsible terrorist organization Hamas. Furthermore, the UN resolution should have included a demand for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages to be credible. The resolution also did not acknowledge Israel's internationally recognized right to self-defense in the face of the inhumane and ongoing acts of terror by Hamas.

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