IN THE MIDST OF EUROPEAN JEW HATRED THERE IS CZECH LOVE - Czech support for Israel is longstanding
By: Joseph Puder
Friday, December 8, 2023
ITAI's WEEKLY MIDDLE EAST REPORT
As Western Europe is flooded with antisemitic demonstrations by pro-Hamas crowds, and visible Jew hatred has become commonplace in such capitals as Berlin, London, and Paris, the Czech Republic stands out with its Philo-Semitism, and its support for Israel.
The war in the Gaza Strip following the Hamas terrorist’s brutal and unprovoked attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, unleashed a torrent of antisemitism throughout the world. In light of what seemingly appeared as if much of the world was turning against Israel, it was heartwarming to witness the Czech Republic’s Foreign Minister, Jan Lipavsky, as the first to arrive in Israel to express his nation’s solidarity with Israel and the Jewish people.
The Czech government did not hesitate to express its unwavering support for Israel in view of Hamas’ October 7 barbaric massacre of 1,200 Israelis - babies, children, women, and the elderly. The Czech Prime Minister, Petr Fiala, addressed a large crowd gathering in Prague’s Old City in support of Israel. He said, “My goal is to ensure the European Council confirms strong support for Israel's right to defend itself,”
Czech Defense Minister, Jana Cernochova, called for her nation to withdraw from the United Nations because of its unwillingness to condemn the dastardly Hamas terror attack on Israel. A group of Czech parliamentarians took a collective photo with the pictures of the kidnapped Israeli hostages now held in Gaza tunnels. Many Czech officials hoisted Israeli flags in solidarity with Israel.
The Czechs have a long history of warmth towards the Jewish people and Israel. Four Czechs stand out prominently as supporters of Jewish rights, aspirations, and the Zionist movement: Czechoslovak President, Tomas Garrigue Masaryk (1918-1935), President Edvart Benes (1935-1938, 1945-1948), Jan Garrigue Masaryk, son of Tomas Masaryk, who served as foreign minister (1945-1948), and last but not least, Vaclav Havel, the first post-Communist president (1989-1992), a statesman, playwright, and former dissident. Havel became the first leader of a free former Soviet bloc country to visit Israel.
Tomas Masaryk was honorably recognized in 1940 by the Jewish community of pre-state Israel with the naming a kibbutz in northwestern Israel, Kfar Masaryk. The nobility of Tomas Masaryk was that he admitted having grown up in an antisemitic home, yet as he matured, he saw as his life’s purpose the elimination of antisemitism as a national goal for his rising nation. He fought against the blood-libel that occurred during the reign of the Austrian Habsburgs. Masaryk recognized that, much like the Czech nation, the Jewish people suffered political repression during the Austro-Hungarian Empire (Czechoslovakia was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire). He realized that due to antisemitism in Europe and elsewhere, Jews needed their own state. Masaryk became one of the first pro-Zionist heads of state.
As president of Czechoslovakia, Masaryk granted universal religious freedom, and provided Jews the status of a nation, not merely a religion. In 1927, Masaryk visited the Jewish community of Mandatory Palestine (The Yishuv). This event was a great moment for the Zionist cause. Hence, the roots of strong pro-Zionist and pro-Israel sentiments lie in the thoughts and policies of Tomas Masaryk, who influenced the way of thinking of future generations of democratic politicians in the Czech Republic.
During Israel’s War of Independence, the US and its western allies imposed an arms embargo preventing the sale of arms to the nascent State of Israel. Czechoslovakia was the only country willing to sell arms to the Jewish state. Jan Masaryk, son of Tomas, as foreign minister, falsified documents to enable the sale of the now famous “Czech Rifle,” that became a mainstay of the Israel Defense Forces arsenal in the early days of statehood. Similarly, the first Israeli planes of Israeli Air Force combat squadron also came from Czechoslovakia.
Czech support for Israel since the end of the Communist era was extensive. In 2006, as Israel fought against Hezbollah during the Second Lebanon War, the Czech Republic defied the European Union stance on the war, and stressed Israel’s right to defend itself. Two years later, during Israel’s Operation Cast Lead against Hamas in Gaza (2008-2009), the Czech government once again stood with Israel. Additionally, when it comes to voting in the UN General Assembly, the Czech Republic is one of the few countries that votes against anti-Israel resolutions.
On October 7, 2023, the current Czech Prime Minister, Petr Fiala, wasted little time in reacting to the Hamas massacre of Israelis by stating on Twitter (now X), “I condemn the terrorist attacks on Israel. My thoughts are with the innocent victims of the violence, and I wish our friends in Israel the swiftest possible handling of the situation and the fulfilment of their ambition to live in peace and security.” The Czech Foreign Minister, Jan Lipavsky, slammed the Hamas attack stating that the attack was an “unacceptable escalation.” He added on X, I am “resolutely condemning terrorist infiltration of Israel across Gaza border and massive rocket attacks launched from Gaza on Israel.”
Despite the geographical distance between Prague and Jerusalem, there is no European country with closer relations to Israel than the Czech Republic. Currently, the Czech Republic is Israel’s best friend and strongest supporter within the European Union. This is a relationship that must be maintained and strengthened particularly in view of the intense antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiments throughout Europe and beyond. For Israelis, Czech love and support mitigates the disappointment from the rest of the continent.
On a personal note, Prague is not only the most beautiful capital in Europe but the friendliest as well, particularly towards Americans and Israelis.