The Embassy of Israel in Belgrade organized a celebration to mark the 74th anniversary of the founding of the state of Israel. Israeli Ambassador Jahel Villain observed that this year also marks the 30th anniversary of the renewal of diplomatic relations between Serbia and Israel.
Diplomatic relations between the former Yugoslavia and Israel were severed in 1967, but the Yugoslav embassy in Tel Aviv reopened in 1992. But as Villain said, although diplomatic relations between the two countries were severed, relations between the two nations never were.
“Serbia is not Israel’s neighbour on the map, but its neighbour in its heart”, said Villain.
He added that one does not have to be a historian, poet or prophet to see the extraordinary similarities between our two peoples and that our close relations stem from a common historical past, present challenges and future dreams.
The celebration began with a performance of the two countries’ anthems performed by the Makris Symphony Orchestra, which then held a concert for guests under the baton of Israeli conductor Nir Brand.
The guests at the Kolarc endowment were also shown video material on economic cooperation between Serbia and Israel.
Israel was founded on 14 May 1948, and was proclaimed by David Ben Gurion, the country’s first prime minister and minister of defence.