The Austrian government would like to strengthen its ties with Israel

The new Austrian leader spoke the day after his inauguration with the Israeli ambassador

Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz met Talya Lador, Israel's ambassador to Vienna, on Tuesday, a day after his conservative party's coalition included the far-right Freedom Party.

Mr. Kurz has given the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ, extreme right) six portfolios – including those of the Interior, Defense and Foreign Affairs – in his cabinet of thirteen ministers who took office on Monday.

In a series of tweets, Kurz claimed his government was determined to strengthen ties with Israel and looked forward to meeting Netanyahu.

"It is clearly stated in our government program that we want to deepen bilateral relations with Israel," wrote Mr. Kurz on his Twitter account, after meeting the Israeli ambassador to Austria on the first day of his mandate.

He also said his government was working to offer Austrian citizenship to Holocaust survivors.

Shortly afterwards, the Austrian Chancellor reportedly said that he respected Israel's decision to boycott far-right Austrian ministers, according to the Austrian ambassador to Israel.

“I fully respect this decision. Our task will be to do good work at home and convince foreign nations. I am optimistic that we will allay all concerns,” Kurz reportedly claimed, according to a tweet from Martin Weiss, Austria's ambassador to Israel.

Yehuda Glick, Likud MK who met Heinz Christian Strache, the leader of the FPO, who declares himself in favor of strengthening ties with the party, called Israel's decision a “serious mistake”.

The Freedom Party said for its part “fully respect” the decision of Jerusalem and seek an “honest, lasting and friendly dialogue with Israel”.

"My party will be a vital partner in Europe's fight against anti-Semitism," the vice-chancellor added, according to a tweet from Weiss.

The new Austrian government, a coalition of the People's Party (OVP) and the Freedom Party (FPO), was sworn in on Monday.

Founded by former Nazis, the FPO emerged as the most powerful far-right formation in Europe in the late 1990s.

In 2000, Israel had suspended its relations with Austria to protest against the entry into a government coalition of the FPÖ, led at the time by the sulphurous Jörg Haider.

Source: © The Austrian government would like to strengthen its ties with Israel