Israel–Romania relations

Israel–Romania relations are foreign relations between Israel and Romania. The two nations established diplomatic relations on 11 June 1948. Israel has an embassy in Bucharest. Romania has an embassy in Tel Aviv and a general consulate in Haifa, and 2 honorary consulates (in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv). The two have signed treaties and agreements and both are full members of the Union for the Mediterranean.

History
During the Cold War, Romania was the only communist country not to break its diplomatic relations with Israel. The two countries signed a trade agreement on 30 January 1971 during Israeli Minister of Agriculture visit to Bucharest. In May 1972, Golda Meir was the first Israeli prime-minister to visit Romania. In 1984, the Romanian minister of tourism visited Israel. The Romanian foreign minister Ioan Totu arrived in January 1988 accompanied by his department director, Mielcioiu. The minister of foreign trade and international cooperation, Ioan Unger came with a Romanian delegation in October 1988. Nicolae Ceaușescu's emissaries were sent for talks with Israeli leaders, though the head of state himself did not pay an official visit, claiming he would only do so when the Arab-Israeli conflict was resolved.

In an article in the Israel Journal for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Avi Millo described how, during his posting (1996-2001), he hosted many dignitaries including the then prime minister, Professor Radu Vasile, at his residence in Bucharest. He served traditional Jewish cuisine to his Romanian guests and used it to teach them about Israeli culture. These meals, he stressed, facilitated conversation, trust, and enhanced the relationship between Israel and Romania.

In 2010, Israeli President Shimon Peres visited Romania and met with several Romanian leaders, among them President Traian Basescu, Senate leader Mircea Geoana and House Speaker Roberta Anastase. They discussed cooperation in the areas of defense, technology, education, business and tourism, and signed two agreements.

In 2014, Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta arrived in Israel and met with Israeli President Shimon Peres and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

In March 2016, Romanian President Klaus Werner Iohannis arrived in Israel and met with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein, and other officials. They discussed terrorism, and Holocaust remembrance.

In April 2018, Romania announced that it would move its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.

In June 2024, a Syrian man threw a Molotov cocktail at the Israeli embassy in Bucharest. There were no victims.

Accusation of Romanian complicity in the alleged Gaza genocide
On 17 October 2023, Romanian social-democratic Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu was the first foreign leader to visit Israel after the 7 October attack.

On 21 October 2023, the Association of the Palestinian Community of Bucharest organised a pro-Palestinian rally, accusing the Romanian state of complicity in the alleged Gaza genocide.

On January 13, 2024, the Iedera Social Centre, a progressive NGO, organized a protest in Timișoara. The NGO accused Romania of complicity in the alleged genocide committed by Israel in Gaza, arguing that Israel is the most important buyer of military weapons produced in Romania, with contracts worth over 50 million euros in 2022, and that the ammunition and weapons produced in Romania were used in Israel's attack on Gaza. The drone components Israel used were manufactured in Romania. The NGO also specified that taxes paid by Romanians finance the alleged genocide, and that those guilty must be held accountable.

On June 20, 2024, at a sit-in organised at the University of Bucharest by pro-Palestine students, Romania's complicity in the alleged genocide was denounced. The protest was also attended by Greens/EFA Member of the European Parliament Nicu Ștefănuță.