If you can’t beat them join them. This is what one can conclude after observing the results of the recent PR stunt in Israel by Heinz-Christian Strache, head of the Austrian FPÖ, Geert Wilders of the Dutch PVV, and Filip De Winter of the Vlaams Belang. Faced with the Muslim invasion of Europe, there are rightwing voices in Europe who seriously think that European nationalists need to strike a deal with Zionists. Their working hypothesis goes that criticizing the Islamic threat can be best countered if and when framed within the parameters of anti-Arab Zionist discourse. The assumption is widespread that eventually some green light will start blinking in Tel Aviv and provide a safe venue for Muslim bashing in Europe.

But more is at stake with the Jerusalem visit by these three politicians. Many European nationalists, similar to all politicians across the board in the USA and Europe, realize that political legitimacy at home can only be achieved if it receives prior blessing in Israel. Thus the visit of these brave Euro right-wingers only bears testimony as to who is the real boss in world affairs. Who wants to stay in endless opposition, cut off from the mainstream public by a “cordon sanitaire” and vilified forever as a bad Nazi?

Neither are the Jewish commentators stupid, as was well demonstrated by a Haaretz commentator: “The organizers of these visits believe they have tamed this bunch of extremists they brought over from Europe, who after trading in their Jewish demon-enemy for the Muslim criminal-immigrant model are now singing in unison that Samaria is Jewish ground. Soon they’ll be sprouting beards and wearing kippot. But they have not genuinely cast off their spiritual DNA, and in any event, they aren’t looking for anything except for Jewish absolution that will bring them closer to political power.”

But as long as this charade continues and as long there are enough of useful idiots among American and European right-wingers, it will nicely serve the cause of Israel. As a role model to the FPÖ, VM and also the BNP, one can cite the case of ex -fascist Gianfranco Fini, who became the Minister of Foreign Affairs in Berlusconi’s government only after prostrating himself at Yad Vashem. Then he could enjoy the plentiful perks of the Quirinal and become a respectable EU politician.

We will see more of these acrobatics among European right-wingers in the months to come. This recent European rightwing stunt in Jerusalem is of interest insofar as it clearly sets up new lines of demarcation among the rank and file of European and American nationalists. The German nationalist NPD is taking a different direction, writing in its recent communiqué in Deutsche Stimme: “Those who oppose the conquest of other peoples in Europe, cannot simultaneously advocate the expulsion of other peoples from their ancestral homeland. … If they do, obviously foreign interests are involved…. The NPD will continue to be on the side of the people, especially those who are divided and oppressed – which in the last analysis includes the German people.”