# FPÖ leadership and international political relations > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/fp-leadership-and-international-political-relations > Updated: 2026-09-16T14:54:32.000Z. Sources: 4. Developments: 2. Political scrutiny of Austrian FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl has shifted from domestic criticisms of party extremism to international diplomatic engagement. In late August 2026, NEOS parliamentary group leader Yannick Shetty criticized Kickl for failing to distance the FPÖ from the far-right Identitarian Movement. Shetty described Kickl’s silence on these links as “unacceptable” and warned that the party was becoming a “job market for right-wing extremists.” By mid-September 2026, the political landscape for the FPÖ saw a shift in international relations. During a conference in Strasbourg titled ‘Islamism and Antisemitism: Threats to Europe’s Freedom’, officials from Israel’s ruling Likud party identified Kickl and MEP Harald Vilimsky as ‘friends of Israel’ and the Jewish people. This outreach follows years of avoided contact between Israel and the FPÖ and follows the granting of observer status to Likud within the ‘Patriots for Europe’ political group in early 2025. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-16: Likud officials label FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl a friend of Israel Likud party officials have labeled Austrian FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl a ‘friend of Israel’ during a conference in Strasbourg focused on combating Islamism and antisemitism in Europe. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/likud-officials-label-fp-leader-herbert-kickl-a-friend-of-israel ### 2026-08-26: NEOS leader criticizes Herbert Kickl over FPÖ ties to far-right movement NEOS leader Yannick Shetty accused FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl of powerlessness following reports of party links to the far-right Identitarian Movement. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/neos-leader-criticizes-herbert-kickl-over-fp-radicalism --- Cite as: FPÖ leadership and international political relations. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/fp-leadership-and-international-political-relations