Poland and Israel try to improve ties, but history intrudes

“On both sides there is some naked political opportunism at work,” said Ian Bond, director of foreign policy at the Centre for European Reform. “On Netanyahu’s side, the more he can find people fed up with the EU mainstream and get them tactically to back him, even if only to annoy other members of the Union, the better.”For Hungary’s leader, Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has battled persistent accusations of anti-Semitism, “it’s quite helpful to have Netanyahu on your side,” Mr. Bond added. “Because then, when the rest of Europe says you’re — if not an anti-Semite yourself — flirting with a lot of anti-Semitic currents, he can say, ‘I have the Benjamin Netanyahu seal of approval, what are you talking about?’”