The friendship between Israel and Banja Luka has lasted for a long time. In Republika Srpska, we are always welcomed, which is very important to us and something we deeply value, said Galit Peleg, the Israeli Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“In Israel, we see your president, Milorad Dodik, and Republika Srpska as friends of Israel, which is why we work on strengthening our cultural and economic relations,” Peleg stated in an interview for RTRS.
She emphasized that the celebration of the 76th anniversary of Israel’s founding was organized this year in Banja Luka instead of Sarajevo.
“Usually, we celebrate this day in Sarajevo. Unfortunately, due to irresponsible local politicians who advised us against organizing the event in Sarajevo for security reasons, we moved the celebration to Banja Luka,” the ambassador explained.
Peleg highlighted that the Israeli Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina has many friends in the Serb, Croat, and Bosniak communities.
“The friendship between Israel and Banja Luka has lasted for a long time. In Srpska, we are always welcomed, which is very important to us and deeply appreciated. The fact that I, as an ambassador, feel safe here is also crucial to me,” Peleg said.
When asked about the interventions of Christian Schmidt or US Ambassador Murphy whenever local politicians make progress in agreements, Peleg stressed that any independent state aspiring to join the EU must have the right to make its own decisions.
“I want all of Bosnia and Herzegovina to move forward and achieve prosperity. I see that internal conflicts have, in many cases, held Bosnia and Herzegovina back. I wish to see more cooperation among the three peoples,” Peleg noted.
Regarding the conflict between Israel and organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah, Peleg stated that Israel’s goals remain unchanged: to establish peace, ensure the hostages return home, and secure safety for all civilians.
“I hope that the influence of the United States and other international actors will help establish a lasting ceasefire. We must reach a point where terrorist organizations no longer control territories in our neighborhood. As long as they do, like Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, no one is safe,” Peleg said.
She added that once control over these organizations is achieved, it will pave the way for peace or at least a ceasefire, allowing people to return to normal lives.
“If the new administration under Donald Trump brings changes—and I believe it will, given his statements and the fact that the US is a great friend of Israel—the situation in both Israel and Ukraine will improve,” Peleg concluded.
She wished all citizens of Republika Srpska a happy New Year, hoping it would bring peace to everyone worldwide.
Last night, Israeli Ambassador Galit Peleg attended the opening of the sculpture exhibition Figures in Motion by the renowned French Impressionist Edgar Degas at the Museum of Contemporary Art of Republika Srpska.
On the occasion, she stated that during times of conflict, culture serves as a bridge that must not be broken, and that the State of Israel will continue to promote cultural and economic exchange.
Source: RTRS
