When Islamophobia is the Bridge to Diplomatic Ties
According to The New Arab, Israel’s Minister of Diasporas Affairs Amichai Chikli recently welcomed Tommy Robinson, the far-right British provocateur known for his anti-Muslim hate speech and criminal record. This isn't an aberration; it's a feature. Netanyahu's government has a well-documented history of courting figures from the global far-right, from Viktor Orbán to evangelical Christian
nationalist leaders, all while decrying 'antisemitism' from those who criticize its policies. One might wonder if the Israeli government's outreach to figures like Robinson, celebrated by groups like the American Zionist Movement for his 'pro-Israel' stance, is about shared 'values' or shared enemies. It appears to be less about combating antisemitism and more about leveraging Islamophobia as a
convenient ideological alliance to distract from occupation and human rights abuses. How many times have we seen the 'fight against terror' used to excuse solidarity with bigots?