Israel's antisemitism conference draws Europe's far-right leaders to Jerusalem

European far-right leaders were in Jerusalem on Thursday for a conference organized by the Israeli government aimed at combating antisemitism.

JERUSALEM — European far-right leaders were in Jerusalem on Thursday for a conference organized by the Israeli government aimed at combating antisemitism, which was shunned by mainstream Jewish leaders because of the divisive guest list.

The event illustrates a growing alliance between Israel — a country founded on the ashes of the Holocaust — and a European far-right that some critics say has not shed its links to antisemitism and Naziism during World War II.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who leads an ultranationalist government, has cultivated close ties in recent years with far-right populist leaders in countries like Hungary, Brazil and Argentina. Many of these leaders, including Netanyahu, have been greatly influenced by the policies and demeanor of U.S. President Donald Trump.

In a speech to the conference, Netanyahu commended Trump for his “decisive actions against antisemitism” and blamed U.S. campus protests against Israel’s war in Gaza on “a systemic alliance between ultra-progressive left and radical Islam.”

“Antisemitism is a disease carried by barbarians” in “all civilized societies,” said Netanyahu.