Israeli president may skip antisemitism conference after backlash over far-right guests

Israel’s president is expected to sit out a government-backed antisemitism conference next week after a wave of high-profile withdrawals over the inclusion of far-right European politicians, Haaretz reported.

Isaac Herzog was originally slated to deliver the opening speech and host the event alongside the Diaspora Affairs Ministry.

The event would be a gathering of Jewish leaders from around the world, with a discussion panel featuring key figures from global Jewish communities.

But the guest list has unravelled. Even controversial figures like Britain’s chief rabbi, French philosopher Bernard-Henri Levy, the CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, and Germany’s commissioner for fighting antisemitism have all pulled out, distancing themselves from the lineup.