Albania–Israel relations
Albania–Israel relations refer to the current, cultural and historical relations of Albania and Israel. Albania has an embassy in Tel Aviv and Israel has an embassy in Tirana.[1] Diplomatic relations between the countries were established on August 19, 1991.
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Albania has recognized Israel as a state since April 19, 1949.[2]
Country comparison
Albania | Israel | |
---|---|---|
Flag | ![]() |
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Population | 2,876,591 (2017) | 8,904,280 (2018)[3] |
Area | 28,748 km2 (11,100 sq mi) | 20,770 km2 (8,019 sq mi) |
Population density | 98/km2 (254/sq mi) | 403/km2 (1,044/sq mi) |
Capital | Tirana | Jerusalem |
Largest city | Tirana – 557,422 (883,996 Metro) | Jerusalem – 901,302 (1,253,900 Metro) |
Largest metro area | Tirana – 883,996 | Tel Aviv-Yafo – 3,854,000 |
Government | Parliamentary republic | Parliamentary republic |
First head of state | Progon, Lord of Kruja | David Ben-Gurion |
Current head of state | Ilir Meta | Benjamin Netanyahu |
Official language | Albanian | Hebrew, Arabic |
Main religions | 56.7% Muslim, 2.1% Bektashi 10% Catholic, 6.75% Orthodox, 5.5% Nondenominational 2.5% Atheist, 16.5% Other |
75.4% Jews, 20.89% Muslim, 7.8% others |
Ethnic groups | 98% Albanians, 1% Greeks, 1% Macedonians | 75.4% Jews, 20.6% Arab, 4.1% others |
GDP (nominal) | US$38.2 billion ($13,274 per capita) | US$305 billion ($38,004 per capita) |
Military expenditures | $169.4 million (1.2% of GDP) | $23.2 billion (7.6% of GDP) |
Military troops | 64,000 | 176,500 |
English speakers | 38% | 84.97% |
Labour forces | 1,800,000 | 4,198,000[4] |
History
Albania was the only European country occupied by the Axis powers of World War II that ended World War II with a larger Jewish population than before the War.[5][6][7]
Not only did the Albanians protect their own Jews, but they provided refuge for Jews from neighboring countries.[8] The Albanians refused to comply and hand over lists of Jews. Instead they provided the Jewish families with forged documents and helped them disperse in the Albanian population.[9] Some 1,200 Jewish residents and refugees from other Balkan countries were hidden by Albanian families during World War II, according to official records.[10]
During the Cold War, communist Albanian leader Enver Hoxha had strained ties with Israel, due to relationships with Arab states, whereas the local Albanian Jewish community were integrated in Albania.[11] After the collapse of communism, most of Albania's Jewish community emigrated in the 1990s to Israel where in the early twenty first century they number some 550 people.[11] In 1991, diplomatic relations between both countries were established and in 1994, Shimon Peres visited Albania.[11]
In 1999, Israel took in Kosovar Albanian refugees from the Kosovo War, providing them with medical care, food and accommodation.[12]
In 2018, a monument dedicated to President Peres was erected in Tirana to honour his memory.[11] Increasing numbers of Israelis travel to Albania, and in 2019 they amounted to 20,000 tourists.[11]
On 26 November 2019, an earthquake struck the Durrës region of Albania. Israel sent a rescue and service team from the regional council of Mevo'ot HaHermon to Albania.[13] Some days after the earthquake Israel sent 10 troops from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to assess buildings on whether they are structurally sound.[14] On 23 January 2020, President Ilir Meta in Israel met with Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers and thanked them for their assistance in earthquake relief efforts.[15] At Ramla military base, the Golden Medal of the Eagle was awarded by Meta to the National Rescue Unit of the IDF.[15]
- Marking Israel's 63rd anniversary in an Albanian synagogue
- Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and Israeli President Reuven Rivlin
- President Ilir Meta thanking IDF soldiers for their earthquake relief assistance
- Albanian President Ilir Meta awarding the IDF National Rescue Unit the Golden Medal of the Eagle
Ambassadors
Ambassador | Term served |
---|---|
Dashnor Dervishi | 1998–2000 |
Bashkim Dino | 2000–2005 |
Tonin Gjuraj | 2005–2007 |
Qirjako Kureta | 2007–2011 |
Bujar Skëndo | 2011–2016 |
Bardhyl Canaj | 2016–2019 |
Noah Gal Gendler | 2019-Present |
See also
- Foreign relations of Albania
- Foreign relations of Israel
- History of the Jews in Albania
- International recognition of Israel
- List of Albanian Righteous Among the Nations
- Albanians in Israel
- Israelis in Albania
References
- http://embassy.goabroad.com/embassies-of/albania#3667
- Albania and Israel in Accord To Establish Diplomatic Ties - New York Times
- . Jewish Voice NY. 31 December 2015 http://jewishvoiceny.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=13303:israels-population-reaches-8462000-by-end-of-2015&catid=107:israel&Itemid=290. Retrieved 26 January 2016. Missing or empty
|title=
(help) - "Israel - Labor Force". Moody's Analytics. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
- Sarner. Rescue in Albania: One Hundred Percent of Jews in Albania Rescued from the Holocaust, 1997.
- "Muslim Family Who Hid 26 Jews in Albania from the Nazis Honored by ADL" [Anti-Defamation League|http://www.adl.org/PresRele/HolNa_52/4963_52.htm Archived 2009-01-05 at the Wayback Machine]
- Escape Through the Balkans: the Autobiography of Irene Grunbaum (University of Nebraska Press, 1996)
- Jews had a 100% survival rate in Albania during the one year Nazi occupation:City-Journal.org/ Archived January 22, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
- ["What's New at Yad Vashem"|http://www1.yadvashem.org/about_yad/what_new/gershman/temp_index_whats_new_Gershman.html%5B%5D] yadvashem.org. Retrieved on 2009-01-02.
- "Israeli Historians Study How Albanian Jews Escaped Holocaust". Archived from the original on 2008-06-09. Retrieved 2009-01-19.
- "Albanian President Ilir Meta Lauds 'Fantastic' Israel Ties". Albanian Daily News. 5 January 2020. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
- "Israeli aid around world disasters". Archived from the original on 2007-08-14. Retrieved 2009-03-26.
- Eichner, Itamar (27 November 2019). "Israel Rescue and Service team assisting emergency operations in Albania". Ynet news. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
- "IDF sends aid mission to earthquake-stricken Albania". The Times of Israel. 3 December 2019. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
- "Albanian president thanks Israeli soldiers for aid after deadly earthquake". Jewish News Syndicate (JNS). 24 January 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2020.