National Council President Wolfgang Sobotka (ÖVP) wants broad support for Israel. Europe’s parliaments and Jewish communities could be involved, the politician said during his four-day trip to Israel.
“Hamas alone is responsible for the situation in the Middle East,” which “must be fought to the utmost.” Sobotka has no sympathy for people who question Israel’s right to self-defense or make a perpetrator-victim reversal.
Jewish communities now need support from both the left and the right in the fight against anti-Semitism. The chairman of the National Council spoke of a “coalition of all willing people” showing solidarity with Israel in its fight against terror. The country is not only under pressure from Hamas in the west, but also from the Iran-affiliated Hezbollah militia in the north and Islamic State (IS) in the south.
Violence against Palestinians is counterproductive
At the same time, Sobotka criticized Israel, for example with regard to its settlement policy and the related ‘land grab’ in the West Bank. Moreover, violence against Palestinians and provocations at Islamic holy sites are counterproductive. Coexistence between the two religious groups must be possible. “Everyone just wants peace.” However, the October 7 massacre destroyed a lot of confidence.
Memorial visited
Sobotka has so far met his counterpart Knesset President Amir Ohana in Israel. Meetings are also planned with President Yitzhak Herzog, opposition leader Yair Lapid and United Arab List leader Mansour Abbas. The chairman of the National Council visited the Yad Vashem monument and laid a wreath in the hall in commemoration of the six million Jews murdered under National Socialism.
On Friday, the politician will hand over Austrian citizenship certificates to descendants of those persecuted by the Nazis. To date, approximately 27,800 people have taken advantage of this opportunity, including 11,000 from Israel.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
