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Israel–Romania relations

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Israel–Romania relations
Map indicating locations of Israel and Romania

Israel
Romania

Israel–Romania relations are foreign relations between Israel and Romania. The two nations established diplomatic relations on 11 June 1948. Israel has an embassy in Bucharest.[1] Romania has an embassy in Tel Aviv and a general consulate in Haifa, and 2 honorary consulates (in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv).[2] The two have signed treaties and agreements and both are full members of the Union for the Mediterranean.

History

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During the Cold War, Romania was the only communist country not to break its diplomatic relations with Israel. The two countries signed a trade agreement on 30 January 1971 during Israeli Minister of Agriculture visit to Bucharest.[3] In May 1972, Golda Meir was the first Israeli prime-minister to visit Romania.[4] In 1984, the Romanian minister of tourism visited Israel. The Romanian foreign minister Ioan Totu arrived in January 1988 accompanied by his department director, Mielcioiu. The minister of foreign trade and international cooperation, Ioan Unger came with a Romanian delegation in October 1988. Nicolae Ceaușescu's emissaries were sent for talks with Israeli leaders, though the head of state himself did not pay an official visit, claiming he would only do so when the Arab-Israeli conflict was resolved.[5]

In an article in the Israel Journal for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Avi Millo described how, during his posting (1996-2001), he hosted many dignitaries including the then prime minister, Professor Radu Vasile, at his residence in Bucharest. He served traditional Jewish cuisine to his Romanian guests and used it to teach them about Israeli culture. These meals, he stressed, facilitated conversation, trust, and enhanced the relationship between Israel and Romania.[6]

In 2010, Israeli President Shimon Peres visited Romania and met with several Romanian leaders, among them President Traian Basescu, Senate leader Mircea Geoana and House Speaker Roberta Anastase. They discussed cooperation in the areas of defense, technology, education, business and tourism, and signed two agreements.[7]

In 2014, Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta arrived in Israel and met with Israeli President Shimon Peres and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.[8][9][10]

In March 2016, Romanian President Klaus Werner Iohannis arrived in Israel and met with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein, and other officials. They discussed terrorism, and Holocaust remembrance.[11][12][13][14][15][16]

In April 2018, Romania announced that it would move its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.[17][18][19]

In June 2024, a Syrian man threw a Molotov cocktail at the Israeli embassy in Bucharest. There were no victims.[20][21][22]

Accusation of Romanian complicity in the Gaza genocide

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See also: Gaza genocide § International complicity

On 17 October 2023, Romanian social-democratic Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu was the first foreign leader to visit Israel after the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel.[23][24]

On 21 October 2023, the Association of the Palestinian Community of Bucharest organised a pro-Palestinian rally, accusing the Romanian state of complicity in the alleged Gaza genocide.[25]

On January 13, 2024, the Iedera Social Centre, a progressive NGO, organized a protest in Timișoara.[26] The NGO accused Romania of complicity in the alleged genocide committed by Israel in Gaza, arguing that Israel is the most important buyer of military weapons produced in Romania, with contracts worth over 50 million euros in 2022, and that the ammunition and weapons produced in Romania were used in Israel's attack on Gaza. The drone components Israel used were manufactured in Romania.[26] The NGO also specified that taxes paid by Romanians finance the alleged genocide, and that those guilty must be held accountable.[26]

On June 20, 2024, at a sit-in organised at the University of Bucharest by pro-Palestine students, Romania's complicity in the alleged genocide was denounced. The protest was also attended by Greens/EFA Member of the European Parliament Nicu Ștefănuță.[27]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Israeli embassy in Bucharest
  2. ^ "Romanian embassy in Tel Aviv". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2009-01-31.
  3. ^ Milutin Tomanović, ed. (1972). Hronika međunarodnih događaja 1971 [The Chronicle of International Events in 1971] (in Serbo-Croatian). Belgrade: Institute of International Politics and Economics. p. 2549.
  4. ^ "Mrs. Meir is back from Bucharest". The New York Times. 8 May 1972. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  5. ^ Israeli-Romanian Relations at the End of the Ceausescu Era, Yosef Govrin
  6. ^ Millo, Avi (2022-07-25). "Why a Kosher Meal is a Diplomatic Asset". Israel Journal of Foreign Affairs. 16 (2): 261–266. doi:10.1080/23739770.2022.2088939. ISSN 2373-9770. S2CID 251081876.
  7. ^ Israeli president hails partnership with Romania
  8. ^ Cashman, Greer Fay (6 April 2014). "Peres greets Romanian premier in Jerusalem prior to China trip". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2016-03-10.
  9. ^ "Statements by PM Victor Ponta on his return from the visit in Israel". Guvernul României. Retrieved 2016-03-10.
  10. ^ "PM Netanyahu welcomes Romanian PM Ponta 24 Jun 2014". GxMSDev. Retrieved 2016-03-10.
  11. ^ Cashman, Greer Fay (7 March 2016). "Romanian President pledges solidarity with Israel against terrorism, anti-Semitism". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2016-03-10.
  12. ^ "Romanian President Klaus Werner Iohannis visits Israel - Latest News Briefs - Arutz Sheva". Arutz Sheva. 6 March 2016. Retrieved 2016-03-10.
  13. ^ "President wants Holocaust Museum in Romania". Romania-Insider.com. Archived from the original on 2016-04-27. Retrieved 2016-03-10.
  14. ^ "Israeli, Romanian presidents seek to intensify cooperation between countries". i24news. Retrieved 2016-03-10.
  15. ^ "Romanian president vows to fight to stamp out anti-Semitism - Israel Hayom".
  16. ^ "Romanian President Klaus Iohannis on state visit to Israel 7 Mar 2016". GxMSDev. Retrieved 2016-03-10.
  17. ^ "Romania to relocate embassy to Jerusalem". Israel National News. 19 April 2018. Retrieved 2018-04-19.
  18. ^ Landau, Noa (2018-04-19). "Defying EU Policy, Romania Advances Proposal to Move Embassy to Jerusalem". Haaretz. Retrieved 2018-04-19.
  19. ^ Ahren, Raphael. "Romania begins process for possible move of its embassy to Jerusalem". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 2018-04-19.
  20. ^ "Atac la Ambasada Israelului din București". Cotidianul. 2024-06-04.
  21. ^ "Incident grav la Ambasada Israelului la București. Trupele antitero ale Serviciului Român de Informații au intervenit". PRO TV. 2024-06-04.
  22. ^ "Filmul atacului de la Ambasada Israelului. Agresorul este un sirian care a ajuns în România în 2017, ca refugiat".
  23. ^ "Presa israeliană: Marcel Ciolacu, primul lider politic care vizitează Israelul de la începutul războiului". 17 October 2023.
  24. ^ https://www.agerpres.ro/romania-in-lume/2023/10/17/marcel-ciolacu-primul-sef-de-guvern-care-viziteaza-israelul-dupa-inceperea-conflictului-in-fasia-gaza--1187904[permanent dead link] [bare URL]
  25. ^ Șerban, Alexandra (21 October 2023). ""Suntem aici pentru civili, nu pentru Hamas!" Protest pro Palestina în București. Astfel de manifestații au fost interzise în alte țări din Europa" ["We are here for civilians, not for Hamas!" Pro-Palestine protest in Bucharest. Such demonstrations have been banned in other European countries]. Libertatea (in Romanian). Archived from the original on 24 June 2024.
  26. ^ a b c Anton, Cristian (9 January 2024). "ONG din Timișoara, marș de solidaritate cu Palestina: "Armele românești distrug Gaza, România este părtașă la genocid"" [NGO from Timișoara, solidarity march with Palestine: "Romanian weapons are destroying Gaza, Romania is complicit in the genocide"]. Stirile Pro TV (in Romanian). Archived from the original on 9 January 2024.
  27. ^ "Zeci de jandarmi şi poliţişti au intrat peste studenţii pro-Palestina care protestează la Universitatea Bucureşti. La faţa locului se află şi europarlamentarul Nicu Ştefănuţă" [Dozens of gendarmes and police came upon the pro-Palestine students who are protesting at the University of Bucharest. MEP Nicu Ştefănuţă is also on the scene]. Mediafax (in Romanian). 20 June 2024. Archived from the original on 7 July 2024.
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