Albania–Israel relations

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]

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  Marking Israel's 63rd anniversary in an Albanian synagogue
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  Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and Israeli President Reuven Rivlin
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  President Ilir Meta thanking IDF soldiers for their earthquake relief assistance
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  Albanian President Ilir Meta awarding the IDF National Rescue Unit the Golden Medal of the Eagle

• 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

• Shoah Research Center - Albania
• "Honoring Albanian Righteous Gentiles and Jewish Survivors:Remembering Albania's Protection of the Jews During the Holocaust by Dr. Anna Kohen"
• Albania's establishment of diplomatic relations with Israel