Serbia was the first country to officially support the Balfour Declaration in 1917, by which the United Kingdom advocated for the creation of a Jewish state, today’s Israel. The Federal National Republic of Yugoslavia was also one of the first states to recognize Israel in May 1948 (over 80% of Jews who lived in Yugoslavia perished during World War II). However, as a result of military tensions in the region, in 1967, Israel invaded neighboring Arab countries, occupied Sinai and Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem, as well as the Syrian Golan Heights. This is why the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia broke off diplomatic relations with Israel in support of the Arabs. Israel unilaterally annexed East Jerusalem in 1980 and the Golan Heights in 1981. The SFRY recognized Palestine in 1988 when the Palestine Liberation Organization proclaimed the Palestinian Declaration of Independence. Relations with Palestine were good for an extended period. Relations with Israel were re-established only in 1992 under Milosevic’s rule with the aim of reducing the isolation which the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was experiencing at the time. Today’s Serbia continues to maintain those relations after the breakup of Yugoslavia.
SIGNIFICANT 2020
Under the supervision and directive of the USA, in September 2020, Serbia signed a declaration regarding mainly the normalization of economic cooperation with Kosovo, which was handed over to the USA. That declaration also obliged Serbia to move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Simultaneously, Kosovo issued a similar declaration, committing to normalize relations with Israel and also open an embassy in Jerusalem. The same day, Israel recognized Kosovo as an independent state, which it did after more than ten years as it feared that such recognition could be associated with the sovereignty of the Palestinian state. Yahel Vilan, the former Ambassador of Israel to Serbia, said that Israel had been under pressure to recognize Kosovo. And how much pressure did the USA put on the President of Serbia, which still – rightfully so – has not moved its embassy to Jerusalem? The only countries with embassies in Jerusalem are the USA, Guatemala and Kosovo. The Palestinians consider East Jerusalem their capital, while Israel considers all of Jerusalem its own. Serbia was not pleased with the recognition of Kosovo, after which Serbia decreased its level of diplomatic representation in Israel.
SERBIA AFTER OCTOBER 7, 2023
Strengthening relations with Israel. After a three-year hiatus, at the end of October 2023, when Israel’s fierce attacks on Gaza, which followed the terrifyingly cruel Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, were already globally condemned, Serbia re-appointed an ambassador to Tel Aviv. In February 2024, President Vučić meets in Belgrade with representatives of AIPAC, the largest American pro-Israel lobby. In May 2024, Marko Ɖurić, former Ambassador to the USA, partially of Jewish origin, who studied in Israel for several years and speaks Hebrew, was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs. In September 2024, during the United Nations General Assembly, President Vučić met with Prime Minister Netanyahu, at which time they expressed their mutual friendship. The same month, the President of Serbia received the President of Israel, Isaac Herzog, in Belgrade, who was accompanied by an Israeli business delegation. In January 2025, President Vučić and Minister Ɖurić declare their support for the ceasefire agreement to which Israel has committed. In early February, there was no comment on the US president’s plan to empty Gaza of its population in order to take over the territory and create a “Gaza Riviera”. Then Israel violates the agreement by refusing to start Phase 2 of the agreement, at the initiative of the US. Minister Ɖurić then met with Israel’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gideon Saar, not in Tel Aviv, but in Jerusalem. On that occasion, Ɖurić gave a speech that was distinctly pro-Israel without a single word about Gaza and the West Bank, not even a nuanced comment at least about delivering humanitarian aid to the suffering Palestinians.
SERBIA’S STANCE ON ISRAEL’S WAR AGAINST THE PALESTINIANS
Serbia condemned the attack by Hamas on Israel on October 7, President Vučić then said that Israel deserves to live in peace and security. He called on Israelis and Palestinians to unite and stop the violence. In that attack, Alon Ohel, a dual Serbian-Israeli citizen, was kidnapped, it is believed that he is still alive. The firm position of Western leaders was that Israel has the right to self-defense, that, in doing so, it should respect international humanitarian law. Israel only heard that it has the right to defend itself against terrorism. In their fear of and passion against terrorism, did Western officials who took this position know that Israel’s response would be extremely brutal and inhumane, actually violating international law? Based on Israel’s previous responses to Hamas attacks and the strength of its military force, this was predictable.
SERBIA’S INDICATIVE VOTE IN THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
In October 2023, Serbia abstained when it came to voting for an “immediate, permanent and sustainable cease-fire”; it also abstained in September 2024 when voting on ending Israel’s presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Was this at least in part to thank Israel for not attending the vote in May 2024 on genocide in Srebrenica? In December 2024, Serbia votes in favor of two resolutions, one demanding a ceasefire and the release of the hostages, and the other confirms the mandate of UNWRA, the UN humanitarian agency for Palestinians. Thereafter, Serbia abstained again on a resolution requesting the International Court of Justice to issue an advisory opinion on Israel’s obligation to provide humanitarian aid to Gaza. Does Serbia with this voting trend aim to maintain good relations with these and those? Were there other interests, which is often the case when voting in that body?
BUSINESS DEALS
Israel is not among Serbia’s largest trading partners. However, cooperation with Israel in the fields of technology and artificial intelligence is strategic. For example, Serbia uses Israel’s Circles software that can locate phones in seconds, as well as Pegasus military spy software that is also used to spy on civilian targets. On the other hand, regardless of the fact that many organizations are calling for the suspension of arms transfers to Israel, since the start of the war between Hamas and Israel, Serbia has increased its arms and ammunition exports to Israel to 23.1 million Euros in 2024. This can bring to mind Israel’s likely supply of weapons to the Serbs during the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The same year, a part of US military aid delivered to Israel was worth 18 billion. By itself, Serbia’s share is not enough to sustain Israel’s current war against the Palestinians and the repression of its military occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem, some would even dismiss it as insignificant. Regardless, there is a possible risk that Serbia be identified as an accomplice in war crimes. At the beginning of 2025, Serbia concludes a contract for the purchase of military equipment from Israel worth 335 million Euros. Is Serbia benefiting economically and technologically from Israel and the United States for its ambivalence about Gaza, and can it be justified?
VIOLATING PROMISES, CONTRACTS AND INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW
While President Trump promised an end to the war in Gaza even before taking office on January 20, 2025, nothing has come of it for now. The US even lifted its sanctions against violent settlers in the West Bank, continues to provide Israel with heavy weapons, and with the support and advice of the US, Israel violated the last peace agreement signed in January 2025. Thereby, Israel reignited its war against the Palestinians, ever more mercilessly.
Does Hamas’ savage attack on Israel allow Israel to engage in what many suspect is genocide against the Palestinian people, under the pretense of destroying Hamas and freeing the hostages? Is it possible to ignore Israel’s injustices against the Palestinians before the war and extreme cruelty since the beginning of the war? Is the possible political support from the selfish leaders of Israel and the USA worth so much that Serbia ignores moral principles?
In January 2024, the International Court of Justice issued a decision ordering Israel to prevent acts of genocide, and in July 2024, the same court issued an advisory opinion that Israel’s occupation of all Palestinian territories is illegal, that it must withdraw from them, that settlements must cease and that compensation for damages be provided. In November 2024, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Prime Minister Netanyahu and then-Defense Minister Galant, accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity. In April 2025, Antonio Guterres, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, said: “Gaza is a killing field – and civilians are in an endless death loop. The world may be running out of words to describe the situation in Gaza…totally intolerable in the eyes of international law and history.”
AROUND THE WORLD, EMPATHY AND INTERNATIONAL LAW
Very quickly, on all continents, the world’s empathy towards Palestinian civilian victims came to the fore among people of all ages, of different religions, professions, social and economic status; on university campuses, football stadiums, in places of worship, through works of art, in local communities, on social networks, in world capitals and smaller cities. Some wanted to undermine this expression of empathy because of the stances of some extremists who infiltrated the crowds, while they also condemned any criticism of Israel as anti-Semitic. However, protesters continue to gather to demand peace and freedom for Palestinians, namely an end to war and occupation.
Nine countries of which Norway, Spain and Ireland decided to recognize Palestine. Since 1988, the total number of states that have recognized Palestine is now 147. France now also has a plan to recognize Palestine. Almost the entire world has contributed humanitarian aid, even Serbia gave 3 million Euros. And the European Union promised 1.6 billion in April.
A public poll by Channel 12, one of Israel’s most important television news outlets, shows that 69% of Israelis want a ceasefire. In a country where serving in the army is considered a rite of passage, the number of Israeli army reservists and conscripts who refuse to serve in this war is increasing, the exact number is unknown because the army does not release such information. And while their motivations may differ, they mostly want peace, many wear T-shirts that read: “There is a moral responsibility to reject illegal wars.” Former Defense Minister Moshe Yalom stated that the Israeli army is committing war crimes in Gaza. Three hundred and five Israeli authors publicly demand an end to the war.
SERBIA’S OPTION
Serbia, like all nations, has a responsibility to stand-up for human rights, international law and the peaceful resolution of conflicts. This is in Serbia’s interest and all other peoples. Why shouldn’t Serbia at least join those who did not take a stand neither for Israel nor for Palestine -but for an immediate end to the war, for access to humanitarian aid, for negotiations, for justice and freedom for both peoples, that is, for long-term peace and co-existence? Couldn’t the Serbian political elite in power and the opposition, right-wingers, leftists and others, advocate for a moral stance on behalf of their people, which would also inspire the peoples of the region? Why wouldn’t Serbia unite the entire Balkans around such a stance and lead that initiative? Why wouldn’t a small country, Serbia, stand up for moral integrity and decisions, thereby earning international significance and respect? Let Serbs choose and make their own decisions freely, independently and autonomously.
Auhtor claims: “However, as a result of military tensions in the region, in 1967, Israel invaded neighboring Arab countries, occupied Sinai and Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem, as well as the Syrian Golan Heights.”
While leaving out a tiny detail. ISRAEL WAS ATTACKED BY THE ARAB COUNTRIES.