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Bilateral foreign relations exist between Austria and Israel. The fact that Adolf Hitler and other perpetrators of The Holocaust came from Austria gives the relationship between the two countries a special relevance. At the same time, the founder of Zionism, Theodor Herzl, also lived in Austria-Hungary and many Israelis are descended from Austrian Jews. After the founding of Israel, the Second Austrian Republic recognized the Jewish state of Israel shortly after its founding in 1949, before official diplomatic relations were established in 1956. In the 1970s, Bruno Kreisky sought a role as mediator in the Middle East conflict and called for a Palestinian state, which caused disputes with the Israelis. Relations were later strained by the Waldheim affair in the 1980s and the first FPÖ government participation in 2000. After that, the two countries became close allies and established friendly relations. In 2023, Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg announced “we (Austria) have entered into a strategic, extremely close relationship with Israel that can no longer be undone”. Within the EU, Austria is considered one of the most pro-Israeli countries.
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History
Background
See also: History of the Jews in AustriaThe presence of Jews in Austria can be traced back to Roman times. The first evidence of a Jewish presence in Vienna dates back to the 12th century. However, after a growing Jewish community had formed, the Jews were expelled from the Duchy of Austria by Albrecht V of Habsburg in 1420/21, as he accused them of collaborating with the Hussites. After the Jews returned to Austria, they were repeatedly persecuted, and in 1670 they were once again expelled from Vienna. It was not until Emperor Joseph II issued the Patent of Toleration in 1782 as part of the Josephinian reforms that the situation of the Jewish minority improved and the emancipation of the Jews in the Habsburg Monarchy began. In the 19th century, thanks to the improved legal situation, many Jews achieved social advancement and many of their members began to play a leading role in science, culture and business. In the last Austro-Hungarian census of 1910, the almost two million Jews made up around four percent of the population. Jewish strongholds were large cities such as Vienna, Budapest and Prague as well as Galicia and Bukovina. Anti-Semitism in Austria intensified due to the important role of Jews in national economic life and demagogic politicians such as Karl Lueger polemicized against the Jewish minority, which also inspired Adolf Hitler. In response to the rise of political anti-Semitism, Theodor Herzl published the book The Jewish State, which first appeared in Vienna and Leipzig in 1896 and made a decisive contribution to the emergence of political Zionism. The rise to power of the extreme anti-Semite Hitler in Germany in 1933 and the annexation of Austria to Nazi Germany soon afterwards in 1938 marked a turning point for the Jews of Austria. Of the almost 200,000 Jews in German Austria, around 65,000 died in The Holocaust, while the rest were able to flee in time or go into hiding. A large proportion of the Jews in the former Habsburg territories of Central and Eastern Europe also died as a result of the German extermination policy. The survivors then played a decisive role in the establishment of a Jewish state in Palestine.
After the founding of Israel
Austria recognized Israel on March 5, 1949. Austria has an embassy in Tel Aviv and 3 honorary consulates (in Eilat, Haifa and Jerusalem). Israel has an embassy in Vienna. Both countries are full members of the Union for the Mediterranean. The Austrian Foreign Ministry lists the bilateral treaties with Israel (in German only). On February 2, 1956, the Austrian Government announced the establishment of diplomatic relations with Israel.
In 2000, after the Freedom Party of Austria joined the coalition government, Israel recalled its ambassador. After talks in Jerusalem with the Austrian foreign minister, Benita Ferrero-Waldner in 2003, relations were restored. In both October and December 2023, Austria voted against a resolution for a ceasefire in the 2023 Israel-Hamas War.
Ambassadors of Israel to Austria
Diplomatic missions
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See also
- Foreign relations of Austria
- Foreign relations of Israel
- Austria–Palestine relations
- International recognition of Israel
- History of the Jews in Austria
- History of the Jews in Vienna
- Jewish Museum Vienna
- Anschluss
References
- "How Hitler's homeland became Israel's European BFF". POLITICO. 2023-11-15. Retrieved 2024-08-18.
- Geographischer Atlas zur Vaterlandskunde, 1911, Table 3.
- Österreichische Historikerkommission: Schlussbericht der Historikerkommission der Republik Österreich. Band 1. Oldenbourg Verlag, Wien 2003, p. 291–293.
- "Austrian Foreign Ministry -> Embassy -> Tel Aviv". Retrieved 18 May 2016.
- Israeli embassy in Vienna (in German only)
- Außenministerium der Republik Österreich. "Bilaterale Staatsverträge". Archived from the original on 20 February 2012. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
- "Austria and Israel to Establish Diplomatic Relations; Open Embassies". JTA. February 2, 1956.
- "BBC NEWS - Middle East - Israel to resume Austria ties". Retrieved 18 May 2016.
External links
- Austria Foreign Ministry: list of bilateral treaties with Israel (in German only) Archived 2012-02-20 at the Wayback Machine
- Austrian embassy in Tel Aviv
- Israeli embassy in Vienna (in German only)
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