‘Chikli is diaspora minister in name only’: Fury at Israel invitation to Tommy Robinson

Israel’s diaspora affairs minister, Amichai Chikli, has drawn condemnation from the UK’s two main leadership bodies for his decision to invite the far-right activist, Tommy Robinson, to Israel in mid-October.

Chikli, who is also the minister for combating antisemitism, put out a post on social media in which he welcomed Robinson’s forthcoming visit. He wrote: “In the wake of the horrific Manchester terrorist attack, Israel and the Jewish people stand firmly with our allies in the United Kingdom.

“On behalf of the state of Israel, I am proud to host British patriot Tommy Robinson, who will visit Israel in mid-October”.

He described Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, as “a courageous leader on the front line against radical Islam.

“At a time when Jews across Europe face rising antisemitism, it is vital to strengthen bonds with allies who refuse to be silent. He has proven himself a true friend of Israel and the Jewish people, unafraid to speak the truth and confront hate.

“Israel will always stand with the Jewish community and our allies worldwide. Together with friends like Tommy Robinson, we will build stronger bridges of solidarity, fight terror, and defend Western civilisation and our shared values”.

But Chikli’s warm welcome was met with cold disdain by the JLC and the Board. In comments echoed by many people on Twitter/X, the two leading community organisations said: “Tommy Robinson is a thug who represents the very worst of Britain. His presence undermines those genuinely working to tackle Islamist extremism and foster community cohesion.

“Minister Chikli has proven himself to be a Diaspora Minister in name only. In our darkest hour, he has ignored the views of the vast majority of British Jews who utterly and consistently reject Robinson and everything he stands for”.

The far-right figure was previously told to stay away from a rally against rising antisemitism organised by the Campaign Against Antisemitism two months after the Hamas attacks.

Chikli has hit back at the Board’s criticism, describing it as having become a “political organisation — openly aligned with left-wing, woke, pro-Palestinian parties.”

“Once proudly Zionist, now politically adrift,” he declared. “If only they showed the same energy attacking Britain’s recognition of a Palestinian terror state as they do attacking me and [Tommy Robinson].”

This is not the first time that Chikli and parts of the UK Jewish leadership have clashed. In March this year he spearheaded a global conference on antisemitism but one by one British Jews – including Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis – chose to reject Chikli’s invitation. He has consistently tweeted against Britain’s Labour government and urged the country’s Jews to make aliya.

Not everyone agrees with the Board and the JLC’s opinion of Mr Chikli. In  a trenchant statement, the National Jewish Assembly says it regards “the insult levied by the Board of Deputies and the JLC against Mr Chikli to be unwarranted, factually incorrect and unhelpful to our community’s relationship with the Israeli government”.

Asked to clarify the “insult”, the NJA’s advisory board chair, Gary Mond, said it was “patently false to describe Amichai Chikli as diaspora affairs minister in name only”. He said the minister “certainly fulfils his role” and that the NJA had had a good relationship with him in the last two years.