Israel–Serbia relations
Israel |
Serbia |
---|
The diplomatic relations between
History
Ever since the 13th century there has been a recorded Jewish community of both
The Jewish communities of the Balkans saw significant influx in the 15th and 16th centuries by the arrival of Jewish refugees fleeing the
The Jewish community developed substantially before and after World War I following the religious autonomy they have received, and many Jewish educational institutions and synagogues for both the Ashkenazi and Sephardic communities were established. By the year 1939 there were approximately 10,400 Jews living in Belgrade.[5]
Most of the Jews living in Serbia were killed during the
According to the 2011 census, there are 578 declared Jews in Serbia, living mainly in Belgrade and Vojvodina.[9]
SFR Yugoslavia and Israel established diplomatic relations in 1948. Until 1952, a total of 7,578 Jews emigrated from Yugoslavia to Israel. During the period, Yugoslavia was mostly neutral in the Arab–Israeli conflict, but maintained ties with Israel, helped by its sizable Jewish emigration.[10]
Yugoslavia severed all diplomatic relations with Israel following the
Political relations
Government of the
According to professor Igor Primoratz: "Since the beginning of the disintegration of Yugoslavia, Israel's political establishment has taken a pro-Serbian stand. Facts that Israel had an embassy in Belgrade since October 1991 and that Serbia was the first among Yugoslavia's successor states to open the embassy in Israel (though ambassador Budimir Košutić will never submit his credentials to the President of Israel due to the UN Security Council sanctions imposed on Belgrade) are just confirming that. Both Israeli public and the press itself as Yad Vashem refused to recognize crimes that Serbs committed in Croatia during the Croatian War of Independence."[15]
On April 28, 2009, Arthur Koll, the Israeli ambassador to Serbia, said that though it had been more than a year since Kosovo unilaterally declared independence, Israel had no intention of recognizing the declaration, and that "Israel is asked from time to time how solid this decision is, but the fact is that Israel's position has not changed throughout this time. The Serbian people and government should appreciate Israel's position, which also demonstrates the friendship between the two states.".[16][17] In September 2009, during an official visit to Belgrade, Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman also reaffirmed that Israel would not recognise Kosovo, but hoped the issue would be resolved peacefully.[18]
Israel
On 9 September 2020, The Jerusalem Post quoted an unnamed source from the Serbian President's office who stated that Serbia would not move its embassy to Jerusalem as it pledged to do by signing the White House Agreement if Israel recognizes Kosovo as an independent state.[27]
Former Yugoslavia, whose successor is Republic of Serbia today, had recognized the State of Palestine on 16 November 1988 and had established full diplomatic relations with it by 1989.
In July 2023, Israeli foreign minister Eli Cohen described Serbia as the "strongest ally of the State of Israel in the region".[28]
Israel–Hamas war
Following the October 7th Hamas-led attack on Israel Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić condemned the "horrific attacks", adding that "the Jewish people have endured a history of suffering and Israel deserves to live in peace and security" while also calling for a compromise between Palestinians and Israelis.[29]
Economic relations
Economic relations between Israel and Serbia have been rapidly expanding since 2009, in part due to the abolition of visa restrictions between the two countries in September of that year. On February 1, 2012, Serbian president Boris Tadić noted during a ceremony marking 20 years to the renewal of diplomatic ties that Israeli companies have invested more than a billion euros in infrastructures in Serbia.[11]
In October 2009, Serbian Interior Minister Ivica Dačić paid a visit to Israel, during which an agreement was signed between the two governments on cooperation in the fight against crime, illegal trade and abuse of narcotics and psychoactive substances, terrorism and other serious criminal acts.[30]
Other relations
Alleged financial and weapon support
In 1995, Israeli weapons supplies showed up among Serbian militants in
It was subsequently reported that Israel had purposely provided weapons to the Serbs during the
Criticism of 1999 NATO bombing
Israel refused to support the 1999
Palestinian territories
Israel and Kosovo did not recognize each other until September 4, 2020. This decision is regarded in part due to the possibility of the
Tourism
Since the abolition of
See also
- Foreign relations of Israel
- Foreign relations of Serbia
- Croatia–Israel relations
- Israel–Kosovo relations
- Israel–Montenegro relations
- Israel–Yugoslavia relations
- History of the Jews in Serbia
External links
- Israeli embassy in Belgrade
- Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs about relations with Israel Archived 2018-01-09 at the Wayback Machine
- Serbian embassy in Tel Aviv
References
- ^ "Embassy of The Republic of Serbia in the State of Israel". telaviv.mfa.gov.rs.
- ^ "International Recognition of Israel". www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org. Retrieved 2019-07-03.
- ^ "Serbia, Kosovo Normalize Economic Ties, Gesture to Israel". The New York Times. 4 September 2020.
- ^ "Serbia won't move embassy if Israel recognizes Kosovo". The Jerusalem Post. 9 September 2020.
- ^ a b "Support-Page" (PDF). [permanent dead link]
- ^ "Virtual Jewish History Tour – Serbia and Montenegro". Jewish virtual library.
- ^ "Yugoslavia". Jewish virtual library.
- ^ Why is Israel waffling on Kosovo?, by LARRY DERFNER, and GIL SEDAN
- ^ "2011 Census of Population, Households and Dwellings in the Republic of Serbia: Religion, Mother Tongue and Ethnicity" (PDF). Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia. 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-07-15.
- ^ a b Ćulibrk, Jovan. "The State of Israel and its Relations with the Successor States of the Former Yugoslavia during the Balkan Conflict in 1990s and in its Aftermath".
- ^ a b Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs – February 1, 2012 – Israel and Serbia mark 20 years since renewal of diplomatic ties
- ISBN 978-1-886223-33-2.
- ^ Michael Freund (4 November 2013). "David Albala: Serbian Warrior, Zionist Hero". The Jerusalem Post.
- ^ Slobodan Kljakić (4 June 2018). "Албале и њихове три дипломатске мисије" [The Albalas and their three diplomatic missions]. Politika (in Serbian). p. 06.
- ^ Igor Primoratz, Israel and Genocide in Croatia
- ^ "Israeli position on Kosovo firm" Archived 2011-06-07 at the Wayback Machine, B92.net, 2009-04-28
- ^ Izrael ne menja stav o nezavisnosti Kosova, 2009-04-28, RTS (in Serbian)
- ^ Press conference with FM Liberman in Belgrade, 2009-09-16, Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- ^ "Serbia, Kosovo normalize economic ties, gesture to Israel". AP NEWS. 2020-09-04. Retrieved 2020-09-04.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-09-04.
- ^ Serbia to move embassy to Jerusalem; mostly Muslim Kosovo to recognize Israel, The Times of Israel, 2020-04-09
- ^ "Serbian embassy to relocate to Jerusalem, Israel and Kosovo to establish diplomatic relations". Archived from the original on 2021-01-06. Retrieved 2020-09-11.
- ^ @IsraeliPM (September 5, 2020). "US President @realDonaldTrump..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ @MelizaHaradinaj (September 4, 2020). "תודה רבה ושבת שלום 🇽🇰🤝🇺🇸🤝🇮🇱..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Ambasador Izraela: Izrael je priznao Kosovo 4. Septembra, to više nije pitanje". 21 September 2020. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
- ^ "Double slap for Serbia: Israel recognizes Kosovo and Vucic in conflict with the EU". 22 September 2020.
- ^ "Serbia won't move embassy if Israel recognizes Kosovo". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. Retrieved 2020-09-09.
- ^ "Minister of Foreign Affairs of Israel Cohen: Serbia is our biggest ally in this region". kosovo-online.com. 12 July 2023.
- ^ "Balkan States Rush to Evacuate Citizens from War-torn Israel". Balkan Insight. 9 October 2023.
- ^ "Israel firm in refusing to recognize Kosovo" Archived 2009-11-03 at the Wayback Machine, B92, 2009-10-28
- ^ Adam Garfinkle Politics and Society in Modern Israel: Myths and Realities, By M.E. Sharpe, 7 Dec 1999, page 194
- ^ Tom Sawicki "How are Bosnia's Serbs getting Israeli arms?", The Jerusalem Report, January 1995
- ^ C. Wiebes (2003). "Appendix II: Intelligence and the War in Bosnia, 1992–1995". Srebrenica: a 'safe' area (PDF). New Brunswick, N.J.: NIOD Institute for War, Holocaust and Genocide Studies.
- ^ Richard J Aldrich America used Islamists to arm the Bosnian Muslims, The Guardian Monday 22 April 2002
- ^ Israeli's Kosovo Remarks Raise Ire April 09, 1999, TRACY WILKINSON, LA Times
- ^ Ariel Sharon... by Robert Fisk Friday 6 January 2006, The Independent
- ^ Israel government refrains from supporting NATO attacks, By Steve Rodan, Tuesday, March 30, 1999
- ^ a b Russia or Ukraine? For some Israelis, Holocaust memories are key Haaretz, By David Landau, Apr. 15, 2014
- ^ Aleksandar Vulin lays wreath at Ariel Sharon's grave Archived 2014-05-21 at the Wayback Machine Published on January 20, 2014, Serbia Times
- ^ Sources: Israel won't recognize Kosovo, for now Archived 2011-09-16 at the Wayback Machine, The Jerusalem Post, 2008-02-19
- ^ Adar Primor (2012-03-13). "Israel, between Serbia and Kosovo". Haaretz. Retrieved 2012-03-18.
- ^ "Tel Aviv stigao na Štrand". B92.net. 21 June 2011.
- ^ "12/2011 - ה. תנועות הגירה ותיירות - לוח ה/7.- כניסות תיירים וביקורי יום, לפי ארץ אזרחות - ודרך נסיעה - עמוד 1 מתוך 2". cbs.gov.il (in Hebrew). Archived from the original on 2013-10-22. Retrieved 2012-04-27.
- ^ "Туристички промет - децембар 2016. Претходни резултати" (PDF). stat.gov.rs (in Serbian). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-08-22. Retrieved 2017-08-21.