Israel–Romania relations

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

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]

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.[20][21]

In June 2024, a Syrian man threw a Molotov cocktail at the Israeli embassy in Bucharest. There were no victims.[22][23][24]

Trade

Israel and Romania trade is also influenced by the EU - Israel Free Trade Agreement from 1995.[25][26] Israel is considered by Romania to be the biggest trade partner in the area of Africa and the Middle East.[27]

Israel - Romania trade in millions USD-$ [28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35]
 Israel imports

 Romania exports

 Romania imports

 Israel exports

Total trade value
2023 311.8 509.8 821.6
2022 437.7 304.1 741.8
2021 482.7 169.8 652.5
2020 257.9 133.7 391.6
2019 237.9 118.6 356.5
2018 223.7 139.5 363.2
2017 213.9 128.3 342.2
2016 230.3 116.9 347.2
2015 175.5 128.5 304
2014 168 120.4 288.4
2013 164 112.4 276.4
2012 161.9 174.3 336.2
2011 145.2 153.6 298.8
2010 146.1 235.1 381.2
2009 112.3 135.6 247.9
2008 106.2 230.6 336.8
2007 119.2 240 359.2
2006 102.5 219.8 322.3
2005 100.3 186.8 287.1
2004 97.9 136.1 234
2003 76.7 120.9 197.6
2002 79 111.9 190.9

Tourism

Israel and Romania allows the citizens of each other to visit without visa since 2008.[36] Both countries are considered popular travel destination with many flights per day.[37]

Tourism of Romanians in Israel and Israelis in Romania [38][39][40][41]
2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015
Tourists form  Israel

Arriving to  Romania

151,454 159,579 50,310 29,162 235,128 278,211 293,150 252,243 219,486
Tourists from  Romania

Arriving to  Israel

95,300 50,300 2,000 24,800 121,100 106,900 78,900 48,800 43,200

Resident diplomatic missions

See also

References

  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. ^ "Presa israeliană: Marcel Ciolacu, primul lider politic care vizitează Israelul de la începutul războiului". 17 October 2023.
  21. ^ 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]
  22. ^ "Atac la Ambasada Israelului din București". Cotidianul. 2024-06-04.
  23. ^ "Incident grav la Ambasada Israelului la București. Trupele antitero ale Serviciului Român de Informații au intervenit". PRO TV. 2024-06-04.
  24. ^ "Filmul atacului de la Ambasada Israelului. Agresorul este un sirian care a ajuns în România în 2017, ca refugiat".
  25. ^ https://www.gov.il/BlobFolder/policy/eu-isr-fta/he/sahar-hutz_agreements_euro-fta-agri-2010-en.pdf
  26. ^ https://www.gov.il/BlobFolder/policy/eu-isr-fta/he/sahar-hutz_agreements_euro-fta-agreement-en.pdf
  27. ^ https://telaviv.mae.ro/en/node/395
  28. ^ "סחר החוץ לפי ארצות בשנת 2023". www.cbs.gov.il (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2024-11-28.
  29. ^ "סחר החוץ לפי ארצות בשנת 2020". www.cbs.gov.il (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2024-11-28.
  30. ^ "סחר החוץ לפי ארצות בשנת 2017". www.cbs.gov.il (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2024-11-28.
  31. ^ "סחר החוץ לפי ארצות בשנת 2014". www.cbs.gov.il (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2024-11-28.
  32. ^ "סחר החוץ של ישראל לפי ארצות בשנת 2011". www.cbs.gov.il (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2024-11-28.
  33. ^ "סחר החוץ של ישראל לפי ארצות בשנת 2011". www.cbs.gov.il (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2024-11-28.
  34. ^ "סחר החוץ לפי ארצות בשנת 2008". www.cbs.gov.il (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2024-11-28.
  35. ^ "סחר החוץ לפי ארצות בשנת 2005". www.cbs.gov.il (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2024-11-28.
  36. ^ https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=CELEX:52008DC0486R(01)
  37. ^ https://www.timesofisrael.com/hungarian-budget-airline-expands-routes-from-israel-to-europe/
  38. ^ https://www.cbs.gov.il/he/mediarelease/doclib/2024/005/28_24_005t3.pdf
  39. ^ https://www.cbs.gov.il/he/publications/doclib/2024/1929_tourism_2022/t04.pdf
  40. ^ https://www.cbs.gov.il/he/publications/doclib/2017/1658_tayarut_2015/t04.pdf
  41. ^ https://insse.ro/cms/en/tags/romanian-tourism