Czech Republic–Israel relations
Encyclopedia
Czech Republic – Israel relations are foreign relations between the Czech Republic
and Israel
, although this article also includes the foreign relations between the Czech Republic's predecessor state, Czechoslovakia
and Israel.
. Czechoslovakia supported the newly created Israeli state for several months with military aircraft and weapons, however, Communist government later ceased this support and within a few years even the diplomatic relations were broken. The Communist regime spread anti-Israeli propaganda
, like all then socialist countries.
Following the 1989 Velvet revolution
, diplomatic relations were renewed between Israel and the newly-democratic Czechoslovakia.
.
In December 2008 the Czech Air Force wanted to train in desert conditions for the upcoming mission in Afghanistan. No country agreed to help, except Israel. Israel saw it as an opportunity to thank the Czechs for training Israeli pilots when the country was first established.
The current Czech government is one of Israel's staunchest allies. In light of the Gaza flotilla raid
the Czech Republic
has gone out in support for Israel
and declared that the Turkish flotilla was a planned provocation designed to entrap Israel. President of the Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic, Dr. Přemysl Sobotka
visited Israel on June 2, 2010 and spoke to the Israeli Knesset
, “As a doctor, I certainly regret any loss of life, but there is no doubt that this was a planned provocation designed to drag Israel into a trap. Many in the European community feel as I do,” he added, “but they are afraid to speak out publicly.” Sobotka met with Speaker of the Knesset
Reuven Rivlin
, and told him, “I support the position that views Hamas
as a terrorist organization… It is too bad that European countries present an unbalanced position on this matter. Unfortunately, the positions of the international community are not always to my taste, particularly in Europe.”
The Czech Republic has an embassy in Tel Aviv
and 4 honorary consulates (in Eilat, Haifa
, Jerusalem and Ramat Gan). Israel has an embassy in Prague
.
There are 3,000 Jews living in the Czech Republic. Both countries are full members of the Union for the Mediterranean
.
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
and Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, although this article also includes the foreign relations between the Czech Republic's predecessor state, Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
and Israel.
Israeli relations with Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia, was one of the 33 countries that voted in favour of the 1947 UN partition resolution, which lead to the creation of the State of Israel, and was among the first countries to recognise the State of Israel, which it did on May 18, 1948, four days after Israel's declaration. Diplomatic relations between both countries were established on July 3, 1948, four months after the Communists seized power in CzechoslovakiaCzechoslovak coup d'état of 1948
The Czechoslovak coup d'état of 1948 – in Communist historiography known as "Victorious February" – was an event late that February in which the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia, with Soviet backing, assumed undisputed control over the government of Czechoslovakia, ushering in over four decades...
. Czechoslovakia supported the newly created Israeli state for several months with military aircraft and weapons, however, Communist government later ceased this support and within a few years even the diplomatic relations were broken. The Communist regime spread anti-Israeli propaganda
Propaganda
Propaganda is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position so as to benefit oneself or one's group....
, like all then socialist countries.
Following the 1989 Velvet revolution
Velvet Revolution
The Velvet Revolution or Gentle Revolution was a non-violent revolution in Czechoslovakia that took place from November 17 – December 29, 1989...
, diplomatic relations were renewed between Israel and the newly-democratic Czechoslovakia.
Israeli relations with the Czech Republic
After the dissolution of Czechoslovakia in 1993, diplomatic relations were established between Israel and the two successor states, the Czech Republic and SlovakiaSlovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
.
In December 2008 the Czech Air Force wanted to train in desert conditions for the upcoming mission in Afghanistan. No country agreed to help, except Israel. Israel saw it as an opportunity to thank the Czechs for training Israeli pilots when the country was first established.
The current Czech government is one of Israel's staunchest allies. In light of the Gaza flotilla raid
Gaza flotilla raid
The Gaza flotilla raid was a military operation by Israel against six ships of the "Gaza Freedom Flotilla" on 31 May 2010 in international waters of the Mediterranean Sea...
the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
has gone out in support for Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
and declared that the Turkish flotilla was a planned provocation designed to entrap Israel. President of the Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic, Dr. Přemysl Sobotka
Premysl Sobotka
Přemysl Sobotka is a Czech physician and politician. He was a President of the Senate and ceremonially the second highest representative of the country.-Early life:...
visited Israel on June 2, 2010 and spoke to the Israeli Knesset
Knesset
The Knesset is the unicameral legislature of Israel, located in Givat Ram, Jerusalem.-Role in Israeli Government :The legislative branch of the Israeli government, the Knesset passes all laws, elects the President and Prime Minister , approves the cabinet, and supervises the work of the government...
, “As a doctor, I certainly regret any loss of life, but there is no doubt that this was a planned provocation designed to drag Israel into a trap. Many in the European community feel as I do,” he added, “but they are afraid to speak out publicly.” Sobotka met with Speaker of the Knesset
Knesset
The Knesset is the unicameral legislature of Israel, located in Givat Ram, Jerusalem.-Role in Israeli Government :The legislative branch of the Israeli government, the Knesset passes all laws, elects the President and Prime Minister , approves the cabinet, and supervises the work of the government...
Reuven Rivlin
Reuven Rivlin
Reuven "Rubi" Rivlin is an Israeli lawyer, politician, currently serving as a speaker of the Knesset. He belongs to conservative Likud. A former Speaker of the Knesset, in 2007 he ran in the election for President as the Likud candidate...
, and told him, “I support the position that views Hamas
Hamas
Hamas is the Palestinian Sunni Islamic or Islamist political party that governs the Gaza Strip. Hamas also has a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades...
as a terrorist organization… It is too bad that European countries present an unbalanced position on this matter. Unfortunately, the positions of the international community are not always to my taste, particularly in Europe.”
The Czech Republic has an embassy in Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
and 4 honorary consulates (in Eilat, Haifa
Haifa
Haifa is the largest city in northern Israel, and the third-largest city in the country, with a population of over 268,000. Another 300,000 people live in towns directly adjacent to the city including the cities of the Krayot, as well as, Tirat Carmel, Daliyat al-Karmel and Nesher...
, Jerusalem and Ramat Gan). Israel has an embassy in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
.
There are 3,000 Jews living in the Czech Republic. Both countries are full members of the Union for the Mediterranean
Union for the Mediterranean
The Union for the Mediterranean is a multilateral partnership that encompasses 43 countries from Europe and the Mediterranean Basin: the 27 member states of the European Union and 16 Mediterranean partner countries from North Africa, the Middle East and the Balkans...
.
See also
- History of the Jews in the Czech RepublicHistory of the Jews in the Czech RepublicJews in the Czech Republic are predominantly Ashkenazic Jews, and the current Jewish population is only a fraction of the First republic's Jewish population. As of 2005, there were approximately 4,000 Jews living in the Czech Republic. There are ten small Jewish communities all around the country...
- International recognition of IsraelInternational recognition of IsraelThe recognition of Israel in the international community remains an outstanding issue of the Arab–Israeli conflict. Pursuant to the United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine, which provided for the establishment of a Jewish state, Israel declared its independence at midnight on 14 May 1948...