The Ambassador of Israel to Serbia, Avivit Bar-Ilan, will participate in the Ambassadors’ Panel at the Euronews Adria Summit, to be held at the Palace of Serbia on November 12
On this occasion, we asked her a few questions related to the topics that will be discussed during the panel
How do you view the current state of bilateral relations between your country and Serbia?
During the past year, the warmth of these relations has been demonstrated through a series of high-level visits between the two countries – including the visit of President Isaac Herzog to Belgrade, the visit of Foreign Minister Djuric to Jerusalem, the visit of the president of the Parliament Ana Brnabić to Israel, to Jerusalem, and most recently the visit of Foreign Minister Gideon Saar to Belgrade.
The shared destiny of our two nations was also reflected in the joint efforts and calls for the release of Alon Ohel, the Israeli citizen who also holds Serbian nationality. We were all deeply gratified to witness the joyous images of his release from Hamas captivity- a moment that reaffirmed our common commitment to human life, solidarity and the enduring friendship between Israel and Serbia.
The close friendship between Israel and Serbia was also evident over the past two years, when the Serbian government allowed Israeli sports teams to host their home games in Belgrade – a gesture that quickly made the city their “second home.” I am proud that the volume of exchange continues to rise steadily and that naturally, Serbia has also become an increasingly attractive destination for Israeli tourists, who find in its people, landscapes, and cuisine a deep sense of connection and curiosity.
In the fields of trade I am confident that with the signing of a free trade agreement between our two countries, we will witness further growth in bilateral trade. We look forward to what the future will bring us in this regards.
Cooperation between the two nations continues to expand across a wide range of fields – trade, science and innovation, culture, sports, tourism, and more. In September we held the first ever MASHAV in house training “Empowering Innovation: Strategic Leadership for Science & Technology Park Managers’’ aimed at raising the capacities of teams and staff within the Science and Technology Parks in Niš and in Belgrade. The training was organized and successfully implemented in close cooperation with the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Technological Development of Serbia. Round 40 people attended the courses. MASHAV is Israel’s Agency for International Cooperation and Development which usually organizes various trainings in Israel. This was a special occasion of hosting their experts for the first time in Serbia for this specific course.
The embassy’s contribution to evolving Serbian innovation ecosystem is continuous and evident in supporting events and conferences related to Biotechnology such as the BIO 4 AI for Life conference as well as the Digital Forensics Forum. I am also very proud that the two countries have signed a Joint Declaration on Technological Innovation during the visit of President Herzog and our two C4IR centers already established close cooperation.
Do you expect the situation in the Gaza Strip and in the Middle East in general — to normalize by the end of the year?
Israel remains committed to advancing along the path to peace, in accordance with President Trump’s plan. There is now a genuine opportunity to return to meaningful dialogue by expanding the Abraham Accords and deepening regional cooperation. As outlined in President Trump’s plan, Gaza must undergo a process of demilitarization. Hamas must be disarmed to ensure that Israel’s security — as well as the security of the entire region — is no longer under threat.
The international community must take responsibility to guarantee that Hamas fulfills its obligations to lay down its arms, and that Gaza is both demilitarized and deradicalized, paving the way for a stable and peaceful future for all. I hope that the Trump peace plan could pave the way for resolving other conflicts around the world.