Boycotts Grow Over Far-Right Speakers at Jerusalem Antisemitism Event
A growing boycott of Israeli Minister Amichai Chikli’s upcoming antisemitism conference has sparked debate over the inclusion of far-right European politicians. In a report by Maayan Hoffman for The Media Line, several prominent Jewish leaders, including Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt, have withdrawn from the March 26–27 event in Jerusalem, citing concerns that the presence of figures from parties with antisemitic histories risks legitimizing them.
Critics argue that politicians such as Jordan Bardella of France’s National Rally and Marion Maréchal, granddaughter of Holocaust denier Jean-Marie Le Pen, should not be sharing a platform with Jewish leaders. Former ADL head Abe Foxman said the event risks normalizing neo-fascist ideologies, calling it inappropriate to develop a joint strategy with those “part and parcel of the problem of antisemitism.”
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Some, however, defend the conference’s direction. Avi Abelow, a right-wing activist, praised Chikli for confronting what he sees as the true source of modern antisemitism—Islamist extremism—and for forging new alliances, even if controversial. Others argue that rejecting potential allies due to past affiliations ignores shifting political realities.
Raheli Baratz Rix of the World Zionist Organization warned that aligning with the far right risks endangering Jewish communities and isolating Israel from European political mainstreams. “An alliance based on shared hatred,” she said, “is a shaky and dangerous foundation.”
The conference reflects a deepening divide over how best to combat antisemitism—through cautious diplomacy or bold new alignments. As Maayan Hoffman explores, the controversy reveals more than just differing strategies; it raises urgent questions about political morality, pragmatism, and the future of Jewish advocacy.
Read the full story to understand why the conference has become a lightning rod for global Jewish debate.
