Amichai Chikli in Conversation

At a forum convened by the National Jewish Assembly, Amichai Chikli, Israel’s Minister for Diaspora Affairs, gave a robust explanation of his recent invitation to Tommy Robinson, a UK activist, to visit Israel. The evening also allowed Chikli to present a succinct commentary on the principles that are driving his Ministry, along with some choice observations on various diaspora nations.

Chikli outlined that his team had been profiling Robinson in some depth for the best part of two years prior to the invitation being issued, finding zero antisemitism and zero issues that caused him or his Ministry any concern. He commented that his research had found Robinson to have offered full support for the Jewish community and for the State of Israel, and that the British activist also displayed a full understanding of the danger that is coming from Islamists both in the UK and across Europe. Chikli also commented that he had found the recent campaign by Robinson to see the Union Flag and appropriate individual nations’ flags flown across UK towns to be “beautiful and very, very important.”

The Minister also outlined the strategic value of the invitation, recognising a responsibility to support those (such as Robinson) who support the Jewish community and Israel. Where Chikli showed a clear support for Robinson, he was equally scathing in his condemnation of President Macron and Prime Minister Starmer. Describing Macron as “having stabbed us in the back” with France’s recognition of a Palestinian state, Chikli then went on to describe Starmer as one of the weakest leaders worldwide, who is leading Britain down a very dangerous path, and questioning how the Prime Minister is tackling the issue of radical Islam.

Aside from his robust and no-nonsense style, Chikli also demonstrated moments of profound diplomacy. When asked for his opinion on those British communal leaders, including the Chief Rabbi and the President of the Board of Deputies, who had snubbed their invitations to the Chikli-convened Conference on Antisemitism earlier this year, he simply refused to judge them, saying he was “OK” with their decisions. In the elegant brevity of his reply, the Minister displayed considerably more grace than had been shown by the politically motivated, posturing and prominent Brits.

While some in the audience felt that there could have been more outreach from Chikli, particularly in the wake of recent terrorist atrocities in Washington, DC and in Manchester, England, Chikli was quick to point out the difficulties for any government minister to leave his country during a time of war. He also went on to touch upon the support that had been given to Jewish communities around the world, often via discreet and non-publicized channels.

The overarching impression left by Amichai Chikli is not only one of a skilled politician, but also that of an acutely aware pragmatist and a man who displays strong potential for the future leadership of Israel.