‘Each country goes its own way’: How Balkan politics shape ties with Israel

Balkan countries’ ties with Israel reflect domestic politics, defence deals and strategic interests rather than a united regional position. Save Share Throughout Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza, Europe’s position has, to an extent, been aligned. Outliers such as Spain and the Republic of Ireland have long been more vocal in condemning Israel, but overall, the shift from unconditional solidarity with Israel to concern over its conduct has taken hold in much of the continent. Across the Balkans, divergent policies towards Israel reflect domestic calculations, transactional diplomacy, and unresolved identity politics rather than a shared vision for the Middle East, according to experts. “The Balkan countries have almost no common positions at all, and so it’s not surprising their positions towards Israel and Gaza are all over the map,” Marko Prelec, analyst at the International Crisis Group, told Al Jazeera. “Each country goes its own way.”