Austria

Austria files charges against suspect over planned 2024 Taylor Swift terror attack

The suspect, who had planned to carry out an Islamic State-inspired attack on a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna, faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

|ByREUTERS
Security information is displayed ahead of a Taylor Swift concert, following the cancellation of three Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna because of a planned attack, outside Wembley Stadium in London, Britain, August 15, 2024.
REFUGEES FROM Hungary gather in the HIAS Vienna office, some expressing a desire to immigrate to the United States, and others to Australia, where they have relatives.

Historic Vienna HIAS office shut down following Trump admin's halt to refugee program

HIAS said the move has left more than 14,000 Iranian religious minorities - including hundreds of Jews and thousands of Baha’i, Christians, Zoroastrians, and Sabean Mandaeans - stranded in Iran.

|ByASAF ELIA-SHALEV/JTA
A police officer stands guard in front of Vienna Central Station, after it was closed due to an unspecified threat, according to the Austrian capital's police and national rail company OBB, in Vienna, Austria, March 3, 2025

Vienna police rule out antisemitic motive after grenade found near police station, synagogues

According to a police statement, initial investigation showed the grenade was defunct, as it "contained no explosives, and the detonator was inoperative."

|ByMIRIAM SELA-EITAM
Salzburg.

This is what next summer will look like for Israelis: Two new destinations starting at $299

Sun d’Or launches its summer 2026 schedule with 19 destinations, including new routes to Naples from $299 and Salzburg from $349. Flights will operate starting at the end of March.

|ByMEITAL SHARABI/MAARIV

Austria offers Syrian refugees 1,000 euros to return home

Austria's government has said it will focus on voluntary deportations. It has also stopped processing Syrians' asylum applications, as have more than a dozen European countries.

DECEMBER 13, 2024ByREUTERS
REBELS LED by HTS capitalize on their swift takeover of Aleppo in northern Syria and Hama in the west-central region by pressing onward to Homs, in Hama, last Friday. Having pounded anti-Assad factions for years, Russia cannot expect accommodation from HTS, say the writers.

Euro states halt Syrian asylum applications after Assad fall, Turkey opens border for their return

Syrians are the biggest group of asylum applicants in Austria and Germany, with with 72,420 asylum applications this year in Germany, and 12,871 in Austria.

DECEMBER 9, 2024ByREUTERS
Expatriate Syrians gather to celebrate the fall of the Assad regime in Syria on December 08, 2024 in Berlin, Germany

Antisemitic attack in Vienna: Hasidic Jew assaulted, shtreimel stolen

The attack comes amid heightened concerns about antisemitism across Europe.

DECEMBER 1, 2024ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
Vienna

Sounds and tastes of Vienna: Austrian Culture Days return to Tel Aviv

The sense of the Viennese zeitgeist is enhanced by the traditional Viennese Café, with apple strudel and other delicacies served to the physically and emotionally hungry patrons.

NOVEMBER 19, 2024ByBARRY DAVIS
SOPRANO MIKA COHEN: Viennese music, in principle, is the basis for most operas.

Austria-Israel alliance and Sebastian Kurz: How he helped both nations find common ground

Eldad Beck explores Austria’s evolving history with Jewish state in this segment from latest book

NOVEMBER 10, 2024ByELDAD BECK
Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz is seen prior to his meeting with Israeli President Shimon Peres at the presidential compound in Jerusalem on April 22, 2014.

Grapevine November 8, 2024: A dirty business

Movers and shakers in Israeli society.

NOVEMBER 8, 2024ByGREER FAY CASHMAN
PRESIDENT ISAAC HERZOG in Ma’alot-Tarshiha.

Vienna experiences 'depressing' increase in antisemitic incidents post Oct-7

A total of 808 antisemitic incidents were recorded between 1 January 2024 and 30 June 2024, whereas in the same time frame in 2023, 311 incidents were recorded.

NOVEMBER 3, 2024ByMATHILDA HELLER
A PROTESTER holds a sign reading 'Let Gaza live, let Gaza be free,' during a demonstration in Vienna in October

Yad Vashem exhibit at Austrian parliament rolls out fate of Jews in post-Anschluss Vienna

The seed for the current project was sown last year when a similarly-themed exposition was given pride of place at the Bundestag, the German parliament building in Berlin.

NOVEMBER 3, 2024ByBARRY DAVIS
ICHARD FINALY (far left) with his family circa 1914-15.

Austria heading for stormy Kristallnacht ceremony with new parliament president - analysis

Some Jewish representatives have already announced that they will boycott the event due to the presence of far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ) member Dr. Walter Rosenkranz's presence.

OCTOBER 29, 2024ByELDAD BECK
The newly elected president of the National Council Walter Rosenkranz holds his first speech during the constitutional session of the Parliament in Vienna, Austria, October 24, 2024.

Austrian parliament elects first far-right speaker over left's objections

This comes after the Jewish community's leader said he was not suitable for the job.

OCTOBER 24, 2024ByREUTERS
Member of Parliament of the Freedom Party Walter Rosenkranz and Head of Freedom Party (FPOe) Herbert Kickl gesture during the constitutional session of the Parliament in Vienna, Austria, October 24, 2024.