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. Diplomatic relations between the countries were established on August 19, 1991.
Albania has recognized Israel as a state since April 19, 1949.

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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.
Not only did the Albanians protect their own Jews, but they provided refuge for Jews from neighboring countries. 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. Some 1,200 Jewish residents and refugees from other Balkan countries were hidden by Albanian families during World War II, according to official records.
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. 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. In 1991, diplomatic relations between both countries were established and in 1994, Shimon Peres visited Albania.
In 1999, Israel took in Kosovar Albanian refugees from the Kosovo War, providing them with medical care, food and accommodation.
In 2018, a monument dedicated to President Peres was erected in Tirana to honour his memory. Increasing numbers of Israelis travel to Albania, and in 2019 they amounted to 20,000 tourists.
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. Some days after the earthquake Israel sent 10 troops from the Israel Defense Forces to assess buildings on whether they are structurally sound. On 23 January 2020, President Ilir Meta in Israel met with Israel Defense Forces soldiers and thanked them for their assistance in earthquake relief efforts. At Ramla military base, the Golden Medal of the Eagle was awarded by Meta to the National Rescue Unit of the IDF.

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