Nazi past, uncertain future: Leading Austrian party worries local Jews

The far-right Freedom Party is the largest party in Austria, and now the Jewish community fears that it will be the majority party in the government, and have responsibility for the fight against antisemitism in Hitler's homeland; At the same time, the extreme left in Austria is also harassing Jews – including hanging posters against IDF soldiers

A far-right Austrian politician may soon be responsible for the Jewish community's security and combating antisemitism.
"Unfortunately, the chances of this happening are high and Austria's Jewish community is deeply concerned," historian Avi Blumenfeld told Ynet.
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וולטר רוזנקרנץ
וולטר רוזנקרנץ
Walter Rosenkranz
(צילום: Alex Halada / AFP)
Austria has been in a political crisis since its September legislative elections, as coalition talks continue to fail. The far-right Freedom Party of Austria (FPO) won nearly 29% of the vote, becoming the largest party.
Initially, many believed the conservative Austrian People’s Party (OVP), which came in second with around 26%, could form a coalition with the liberal Neos and the center-left Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPO). But negotiations collapsed, raising fears that the two right-wing parties will now join forces.
According to Blumenfeld, Austria's Jewish community has long feared FPO, founded in 1955 by former Nazi officer Anton Reinthaller. "A major scandal erupted in August after the newspaper Der Standard claimed to have obtained footage from a funeral attended by FPO lawmakers Harald Stefan and Martin Graf and parliamentary faction leader Norbert Nemeth.
“The report alleged they sang ‘Wenn alle untreu werden’ (If All Become Traitors), a song adopted by the SS during World War II."
How did they respond? "They sued for defamation, arguing the song, requested by the deceased, was from its 1814 version, not the Holocaust-era one referencing the Holy Roman Empire. The court swiftly ruled against the newspaper, ordering €20,000 in damages, but the paper is appealing.
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אבי בלומנפלד
אבי בלומנפלד
Historian Avi Blumenfeld
“Meanwhile, Vienna prosecutors have requested the lifting of FPO officials' immunity to investigate suspected Nazi propaganda."
How concerning is Rosenkranz's appointment as parliament president? "The role, second in importance only to the chancellor, oversees Austria’s National Fund for Jewish property restitution, Holocaust survivor pensions, memorial projects, antisemitism prevention, Jewish life promotion and security for Jewish schools and religious institutions. So yes, the concern is significant."
Isn’t that absurd? "The real absurdity is that some right-wing figures in Israel believe FPO should be embraced and ‘cleansed of its past.’"

The paradox of Jewish leadership

Blumenfeld recalled that nearly a decade ago then-FPO leader Heinz-Christian Strache visited Israel and met with Likud lawmaker Avi Dichter. "They mistakenly think FPO's opposition to radical Islam makes them allies but Austria’s Jewish community remains wary," he said.
“Recall former FPO leader Jorg Haider’s remark about Ariel Muzicant, then-president of the European Jewish Congress: ‘I don't understand how someone whose name is Ariel can have so much dirt sticking to him,’" he added.
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וולטר רוזנקרנץ, נשיא המועצה הלאומית של אוסטריה – הפרלמנט האוסטרי
וולטר רוזנקרנץ, נשיא המועצה הלאומית של אוסטריה – הפרלמנט האוסטרי
Walter Rosenkranz
(צילום: Christian Bruna / Getty Images)
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יעקב פרנקל
יעקב פרנקל
Activist Yaakov Frenkel
(Photo: jbbz.org)
Austria’s official Jewish leadership body, known as the "Jewish Government," includes members like activist Yaakov Frenkel. "This is the Jewish exile in a nutshell," he said wryly. "We know FPO has members who’d be happy to see Jews back in gas chambers. Yet as part of Austria’s Jewish leadership, I now have to work with Rosenkranz simply because he’s the parliament president.”
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“When FPO was a minor party, we could ignore them. But now they’re the biggest faction – one that includes Udo Landbauer, who once wrote a poem lamenting that only six million Jews were murdered instead of seven. If we fight them, we risk undoing seven decades of Jewish communal achievements."
Rosenkranz recently faced Jewish anger when Jewish students blocked him from laying a wreath at an International Holocaust Remembrance Day ceremony. Protesters declared: "Today, we made it clear that Walter Rosenkranz has no place at Holocaust memorial events."

'Wanted' posters targeting an IDF soldier

Concerns about antisemitism in Austria and Germany aren't limited to the far right. Last week, far-left activists in Vienna and Munich plastered "Wanted" posters featuring an Israeli soldier allegedly fighting in Gaza as part of the war.
The posters, displaying the soldier’s name and photo, accused him of "war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide," urging the public to report his whereabouts to the police.
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מודעת "מבוקש" שנתלתה באוסטריה נגד חייל ישראלי
מודעת "מבוקש" שנתלתה באוסטריה נגד חייל ישראלי
Austrian wanted poster against IDF soldier
FPO spokesman Leo Lugner condemned the posters: "These are ‘Antifa’ tactics reminiscent of past far-left witch hunts." He called for a police investigation, saying: "Antifascist activists have recently used similar posters to brand patriots as ‘Nazis’ and persecute them."
Vienna police said in response: "We are investigating and have forwarded the matter to the relevant authorities."
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אסף וול
אסף וול
Asaf Wohl
(Photo: Anat Levinsky)
"As an Israeli in Vienna, I understand the Jewish community’s concerns given history," said Asaf Wohl, a creative professional living in Austria. "They know Austria’s politics better than I do. But I see the present and Israel’s interests. Maybe we’re wrong about who we push away – someone reaching out might withdraw support if we keep giving them the cold shoulder.”
“Skepticism is warranted, but completely boycotting a ruling party that shares our recognition of global Islamic threats is a strategy worth reconsidering."
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