The multi-day visit of Serb member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Željka Cvijanović to Israel confirmed the high level of mutual respect and strong friendship between Republika Srpska and the State of Israel.
Following a series of meetings with Israel’s top state officials, Cvijanović addressed participants at the prestigious MuniExpo Summit in Tel Aviv, emphasizing that Republika Srpska provides a secure framework for all citizens and maintains zero tolerance for antisemitism.
The visit highlighted the strong relationship between Republika Srpska and Israel. After meetings with senior Israeli officials, including the country’s political leadership, Cvijanović spoke before participants at the internationally recognized MuniExpo Summit in Tel Aviv. She was welcomed by Haim Bibas, Chairman of the Federation of Local Authorities in Israel and Mayor of Modi’in, who described her as a great friend of Israel.
“We are extremely proud that our cities are actively building bridges of cooperation, just as Republika Srpska nurtures a sincere friendship with the State of Israel. I would especially like to highlight the deep ties and sister-city relationship between Banja Luka, the largest city and administrative centre of Republika Srpska, and the city of Modi’in,” Cvijanović said.
She also stressed the importance of combating antisemitism and preserving historical memory, underscoring that Republika Srpska does not tolerate any form of hatred.
“I would like to emphasize that Republika Srpska has zero tolerance for any form of antisemitism that may appear within Bosnia and Herzegovina, and we actively fight against it. At the same time, we are proud that Republika Srpska represents a safe environment for all our citizens, regardless of their national, religious or cultural background,” she stated.
American attorney and political activist Mark Zell described Cvijanović’s speech as an exceptional effort to connect Jewish and Serb historical memory, while also serving as a clear warning about the threats facing free societies today.
“Republika Srpska is not merely a small entity in the Balkans. It is a Christian democratic bulwark standing between radical Islam and the heart of Europe, and one of Israel’s most consistent friends in the world,” Zell said.
During her stay in Israel, Cvijanović met with the country’s top leadership, including the Prime Minister, President, Speaker of Parliament and Foreign Minister. The meetings generated strong reactions in political Sarajevo.
The Party of Democratic Action (SDA) criticized a statement by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar regarding the need to protect Christians in Bosnia and Herzegovina, describing it as Zionist pressure on Bosniaks and claiming that it aligned with the narrative promoted by Milorad Dodik. The party also referenced historical claims regarding the role of Muslims in Bosnia and Herzegovina in helping Jews during their expulsion from Spain centuries ago.
SNSD leader Milorad Dodik responded by calling the SDA reaction deeply cynical.
“It is not propaganda to point out the intention of Bosniak political parties to dominate over Serbs and Croats. What is antisemitic, however, is denying the Jewish people, who suffered the greatest genocide in history, the right to defend themselves. Even more distasteful is the falsification of history through references to alleged merits from the distant past while simultaneously organizing rallies in support of Hamas and Hezbollah,” Dodik stated.
Despite criticism from Sarajevo, Cvijanović stressed that, as the legitimately elected representative of Republika Srpska in the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, she has an obligation to represent and protect the interests of the citizens who entrusted her with their support.
Judging by the messages delivered from Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, relations between Republika Srpska and Israel are expected to continue developing regardless of political objections coming from Sarajevo.
Source: RTRS
