Such a conception of citizenship and nationhood is based on ethnicity, not territory. It opposes multiculturalism, believing instead that loyalty to the state derives from a tribal attachment rather than a civic one. It stands in stark opposition to most European countries' notions of citizenship.
As a result, the Israeli leadership assumes that all Palestinians, including those who are Israeli citizens, cannot be trusted and that there can never be real peace in the region. That is why Israel has been building iron walls everywhere to create a fortress Jewish state.
But the logical corollary is that Jews too cannot be loyal to the other states they live in, such as France. In Netanyahu's conception, a Jew's primary bond should be to their "true home" -- the Jewish state of Israel.
Paradoxically, that view is shared by Europe's far-right, including groups like France's National Front, whose popularity has been growing on the back of attacks like the one in Paris. They argue that minorities are inherently suspect and that Europe is better off without them.
In this regard, Netanyahu and the far-right share much common ground. He wants a Europe free of Jews -- as well as Muslims who undermine Europe's support for Israel -- because he thinks that is in Jewish interests. The far-right wants the same because it believes it will be in the interests of a supposed "native" white majority.
One Israeli commentator noted pointedly that Israeli politicians like Netanyahu were helping to "finish the job started by the Nazis and their Vichy collaborators: making France Judenrein."
In calling for Jews to flee after the Paris attacks, Netanyahu is bolstering the dangerous arguments of Europe's far-right.
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