Israel–Romania relations

Israel–Romania relations are foreign relations between Israel and Romania. Both countries established full diplomatic relations on June 11, 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 countries have signed many bilateral treaties and agreements and both countries are full members of the Union for the Mediterranean.

Israel–Romania relations
Map indicating locations of Israel and Romania

Israel
Romania

History

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 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.[4]

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.[5]

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.[6]

In 2014, Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta arrived in Israel and met with Israeli President Shimon Peres and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.[7][8][9]

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.[10][11][12][13][14][15]

In April 2018, Romania announced that they would move their embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.[16][17][18]

See also

References
  1. Israeli embassy in Bucharest
  2. Romanian embassy in Tel Aviv
  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. Israeli-Romanian Relations at the End of the Ceausescu Era, Yosef Govrin
  5. 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.
  6. Israeli president hails partnership with Romania
  7. Cashman, Greer Fay. "Peres greets Romanian premier in Jerusalem prior to China trip". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2016-03-10.
  8. "Statements by PM Victor Ponta on his return from the visit in Israel". Guvernul României. Retrieved 2016-03-10.
  9. "PM Netanyahu welcomes Romanian PM Ponta 24 Jun 2014". GxMSDev. Retrieved 2016-03-10.
  10. Cashman, Greer Fay. "Romanian President pledges solidarity with Israel against terrorism, anti-Semitism". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2016-03-10.
  11. "Romanian President Klaus Werner Iohannis visits Israel - Latest News Briefs - Arutz Sheva". Arutz Sheva. 6 March 2016. Retrieved 2016-03-10.
  12. "President wants Holocaust Museum in Romania". Romania-Insider.com. Archived from the original on 2016-04-27. Retrieved 2016-03-10.
  13. "Israeli, Romanian presidents seek to intensify cooperation between countries". i24news. Retrieved 2016-03-10.
  14. "Romanian president vows to fight to stamp out anti-Semitism - Israel Hayom".
  15. "Romanian President Klaus Iohannis on state visit to Israel 7 Mar 2016". GxMSDev. Retrieved 2016-03-10.
  16. "Romania to relocate embassy to Jerusalem". Israel National News. 19 April 2018. Retrieved 2018-04-19.
  17. Landau, Noa (2018-04-19). "Defying EU Policy, Romania Advances Proposal to Move Embassy to Jerusalem". Haaretz. Retrieved 2018-04-19.
  18. Ahren, Raphael. "Romania begins process for possible move of its embassy to Jerusalem". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 2018-04-19.
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