Austrian President Accused Israel of War Crimes, Sparking Diplomatic Row

Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen has accused Israel of committing war crimes, sparking a diplomatic crisis. Speaking at a press conference on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, Van der Bellen stated that the "illegal settlements in the West Bank territories have accelerated, and this constitutes violence against the Palestinian population." He further asserted that these events fall under the definition of war crimes and that the Netanyahu government is moving in "dangerous territory" that will not benefit it in the long run. However, he emphasized that Israel's right to exist should not be questioned, nor should all its citizens be blamed for the government's policies.

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz sharply criticized Van der Bellen's remarks. Writing on X, Katz stated that Van der Bellen should "be ashamed" and reminded him of Austria's past involvement in crimes against humanity and the Jewish people. Katz condemned the president for leveling false accusations against Israel while it is fighting a "jihadist axis" seeking its annihilation, calling his words "abhorrent nonsense." Similar to the Austrian president, Katz also clarified that Austrian citizens should not bear responsibility for these statements.

Van der Bellen's comments also drew reservations from within Austria. The office of the Austrian Chancellor issued a clarification stating that Austria has a special responsibility towards Israel due to its history and that Israel's right to exist is not in doubt. The Chancellor's office added that while international law is binding, "determining a violation of law is the task of the courts."

Oskar Deutsch, president of the Jewish Community in Austria, also criticized the president, calling Van der Bellen a true friend of Israel. Deutsch expressed dismay that the president presented one-sided accusations and ignored the existential threat from Iran and terrorist organizations. He revealed that since the start of the war, Austria has experienced an unprecedented wave of antisemitism, with over three-quarters of the 1,532 incidents recorded in 2025 by the local reporting body having a connection to Israel.