MADRID (JTA) – Israel’s Minister of Diaspora Affairs Amichai Chikli is scheduled to speak at Europa Viva 24, a convention hosted by Spain’s far-right party Vox this weekend. The conference will bring together Europe’s rightwing leaders and over 10,000 attendees in Madrid.
Chikli, a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party, has been engaging with European politicians advocating pro-Israel positions from parties with antisemitic and neo-Nazi backgrounds. He will share the stage with Javier Milei, Argentina’s new right-wing, pro-Israel president, at the event.
Vox has faced criticism for its platform, which includes controversial policies such as restricting abortion access and repealing domestic violence laws. The party has also been associated with neo-Nazis in its ranks, including Holocaust revisionist Fernando Paz who was once nominated as a congressional candidate.
Other members of Vox with neo-Nazi ties include Jordi de la Fuente, José María Ruiz Puerta, and José Ignacio Vega Peinado. Pedro Valera, a leader of Spanish neo-Nazism, recently appeared at Vox’s closing campaign ceremony in Barcelona.
Despite past discouragement from Likud officials, the boundaries between the party and Vox have blurred under Israel’s current right-wing government. Chikli has met with Vox president Santiago Abascal and praised him for his stance on moral clarity in Western civilization.
Chikli’s engagements with far-right European parties extend beyond Spain, as he has also met with Sweden’s far-right party, the Swedish Democrats. Chikli’s ministry focuses on engaging and supporting Diaspora Jews and combating antisemitism.
While Chikli has strengthened ties with far-right European parties, he has expressed reluctance in building alliances with some Jews who participate in protests against Israel’s military actions. He stated that he does not consider individuals who support anti-Israel sentiments as part of the Jewish community he aims to connect with.