Kreisky, Israel, and Jewish Identity

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The personal and professional life of Bruno Kreisky, Austria's Socialist chancellor from 1970 to 1983, has been widely studied, yet his complex relationship with his Jewish identity, the State of Israel, and Zionism remains underexplored. This work systematically analyzes these aspects, placing Kreisky in a comparative context with other twentieth-century European Jewish politicians who reached similar heights of power. It highlights Kreisky as a significant and controversial figure in post-World War II politics. The focus is on how his Jewishness influenced his approach to "Jewish" issues in Austrian politics, Austrian-Israeli relations, and Middle Eastern affairs. This understanding is developed through key events such as the Kreisky-Peter-Wiesenthal affair, the Waldheim affair, and the 1973 Marchegg incident, alongside his connections to Zionism and the Palestinian Arab world. Rather than serving as a comprehensive biography, the work documents Kreisky's complex engagement with his Jewish identity and the sensitive issues surrounding it, framed within historical, political, ideological, and personal contexts. Ultimately, it delves into the intricate and often ambiguous politics of identity that shaped his understanding of his Jewishness.