115th birthday of Bruno Kreisky
On the occasion of Bruno Kreiskys 115th birthday, an evening was organized at the Armbrustergasse 15 with the title “Bruno Kreisky and the Middle East – building diplomacy and reconstructing peace”, inlcuding a set of speeches, a panel discussion as well as a heartfelt gathering with all guests afterwards.
The event started with opening remarks, regarding Kreiskys political legacy in Austria and the Middle East, held by remarkable guests and friends of the Bruno Kreisky Forum. Among them were intriguing words given by the Vice Chancellor of Austria, Andreas Babler and those of Palestinian Ambassador to Austria and Permanent Observer to the UN in Vienna, Salah Abdel-Shafi, putting special emphasis on Kreisky being “pro international law”, instead of being “pro one side or the other”.
A central theme of the evening was the warning that international law and international human rights law are increasingly at risk of being dismantled, replaced by a world order driven by power rather than rights. The panel repeatedly emphasized that developments in Palestine are not “regional” in a narrow sense since the Middle East is linked to Europe through security dynamics, political instability, displacement, and broader geopolitical spillovers. Europe must act as a political player, and Austria, given its diplomatic tradition and role as a venue for dialogue, can contribute to enabling serious political processes.
The discussion revisited Kreisky’s Middle East engagement as a form of diplomacy that combined personal relationships, political will and strategic mediation. Panelists described Austria’s historical contribution to key moments surrounding the Egypt–Israel peace process, including Kreisky’s close relationship with Anwar Sadat and his role in facilitating contacts that helped shape the path toward Camp David.
At the same time, the panel emphasized that Kreisky’s approach cannot be reduced to simplistic labels. His engagement was rooted in a belief that the region’s core unresolved issue remained Palestinian self-determination, and that peace requires political frameworks, not only economic measures or humanitarian responses. The evening also reflected on leadership: courageous political figures willing to speak uncomfortable truths, and the long-term thinking required to prevent conflicts from becoming irreversible.
The panel addressed the difficult question of how any future process can proceed while Hamas remains a key actor. Comparisons to other conflict contexts highlighted an uncomfortable but recurring lesson: peace processes often require engagement with extremist actors, while still insisting on accountability and rule-of-law principles over time. Mkhaimar Abusada emphasized the catastrophic scale of destruction and the political fragility of any ceasefire, arguing that Palestinians cannot afford the “luxury of losing hope,” yet also cannot ignore the structural conditions that perpetuate conflict. Discussion around disarmament centred on the idea that it is typically phased, lengthy, and tied to political horizons, including security guarantees and credible governance on the ground.
However, it was mentioned that Austria can still contribute by offering good offices, enabling dialogue formats, and supporting technical expertise in post-conflict environments, ideally embedded in a broader EU framework. The discussion stressed the importance of experienced European and international actors working both on the ground and within institutions, and the need to give experts with credibility enough political space to do their work.
