The Patriots for Europe political group, the third-largest faction in the European Parliament, formally endorsed Israel's sovereignty claims in Judea and Samaria and adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism during a meeting in Strasbourg, France. The move positions the right-wing bloc in direct opposition to recent diplomatic efforts by several European nations, including the United Kingdom, France, and Canada, which have called for halts to Israeli construction in the West Bank and announced potential import embargoes.
The endorsement represents a significant shift in the European Parliament's internal dynamics regarding Israel. Led by Jordan Bardella of France’s National Rally and formed in June 2024 by leaders including Hungary’s Viktor Orbán, the Czech Republic’s Andrej Babiš, and Austria’s Herbert Kickl, the Patriots for Europe group holds 86 seats across 14 national delegations. The group’s platform emphasizes national sovereignty, strict border controls, and traditional values, and it has increasingly framed its opposition to EU foreign policy interventions as a defense of Western interests against what it describes as 'Brussels overreach.'
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive voices and leftist diplomats in Europe have maintained that Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank undermines the two-state solution and violates international law. The coordinated push by twelve nations, including the United Kingdom and France, to demand Israel halt construction in Judea and Samaria reflects this stance. British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband announced a planned embargo on West Bank imports from Israeli settlements, a move described by supporters as necessary to pressure Israel into returning to peace negotiations.
Critics within the European left argue that the Patriots for Europe’s adoption of the IHRA charter is being used selectively to shield settlement policies from criticism rather than to combat antisemitism itself. They point to the broader context of European diplomatic efforts, which they view as consistent with long-standing EU foreign policy goals of supporting Palestinian statehood and adhering to UN resolutions regarding occupied territories. For these factions, the economic sanctions and diplomatic isolation are tools to enforce international legal standards rather than expressions of bias.
What the Right Is Saying
The Patriots for Europe and its allies characterize the European boycott campaigns as antisemitic and driven by double standards. The group explicitly rejected the mounting boycott efforts, arguing that they target Israel disproportionately compared to other nations. Jordan Bardella and other leaders within the faction have framed their support for Israel as a defense of Western civilization and a rejection of what they perceive as hostile leftist foreign policy agendas in Brussels.
Israeli officials aligned with right-wing perspectives have welcomed the move. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich criticized the British government on X, calling for the expulsion of the British ambassador and describing the UK’s actions as an attempt by an 'antisemitic government' to distract from domestic economic and social decline. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar warned that if Britain acts against Israel, Israel will act against Britain. Supporters of this view argue that the IHRA charter is the correct standard for identifying antisemitism and that equating criticism of Israel with antisemitism is essential for protecting Jewish interests in Europe.
What the Numbers Show
The Patriots for Europe group currently holds 86 seats in the European Parliament, making it the third-largest faction in the assembly. The group was formed in June 2024 and spans 14 national delegations. The diplomatic tension is compounded by economic threats; Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ administration and Rep. Randy Fine have highlighted that Florida law (§287.135) penalizes entities participating in anti-Israel boycotts. Fine noted that similar laws previously forced companies like Airbnb to reverse boycott policies, suggesting that British firms involved in the new embargo could face billions of dollars in losses in the U.S. market.
Historical context cited by the right-wing bloc includes declassified records from 1944 showing that British Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden blocked a U.S. rescue mission for concentration camp victims due to fears of emigration to Palestine. Additionally, Britain blockaded ships carrying Holocaust survivors, such as the Exodus 1947, and commanded Arab forces during Israel’s 1948 War of Independence. These historical points are used to argue that current British policy continues a pattern of obstruction against Jewish statehood.
The Bottom Line
The formal alignment of the Patriots for Europe with Israel’s settlement policies marks a deepening polarization within the European Parliament and between European capitals and Washington. The adoption of the IHRA charter by a major parliamentary faction provides a legal and rhetorical framework for challenging future EU sanctions against Israel. The next steps involve monitoring whether the European Parliament will attempt to pass resolutions countering the Patriots' stance and how the UK and other EU nations will respond to potential economic retaliations from U.S. states like Florida. The situation remains developing as diplomatic channels continue to operate under heightened tension.