A critical discourse analysis of Geert Wilders' pro-Israelism

Although it is increasingly common for far-right parties in Europe to express support for Israel, the motivations behind this stance remain uncertain–besides an obvious attempt to distance themselves from associations with anti-Semitism. By turning to the quintessential, pro-Israel far-right politician, Geert Wilders of the Partij voor de Vrijheid (PVV), this article looks to add further nuance to our understanding of, and trace the ideological currents underpinning, the far right's support for Israel by returning to a key and iconic speech given by Wilders in Tel Aviv in 2010. Through a Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) of the speech, the article shows that Wilders' support for Israel goes beyond disavowing associations with anti-Semitism. Rather, the analysis reveals an attempt to delegitimise Muslim presence in Europe and depict Islam as a totalitarian threat through false analogies between Israel/the West and Palestine/Islam. Moreover, by tracing how the speech builds on adjacent discourses, the article shows that Wilders' pro-Israel stance rests on longstanding Islamophobic and pro-Israel narratives within mainstream discourse. In doing so, it demonstrates how pre-existing discourses framing Israel as ‘our’ ally in a supposed clash of civilisations have helped lay the groundwork for the manifestations of pro-Israel far-right discourse we see today.