Estonia–Israel relations

  1. Home
  2. Wiki
Estonia–Israel relations
Map indicating locations of Estonia and Israel

Estonia
Israel

Estonia–Israel relations are foreign relations between Estonia and Israel.

Israel recognized Estonia on 4 September 1991 and diplomatic relations were established on 9 January 1992. The Estonian embassy in Israel was opened in November 2009 by the Estonian Minister of Foreign Affairs Urmas Paet.[1] The Israeli ambassador to Finland serves also as the ambassador to Estonia, as the Israeli embassy sits in Helsinki, Israel also have honorary consul in Tallinn. Estonian nationals and Israeli nationals can visit each other without visa.

History

[edit]

After the collapse of the Soviet Union and Estonia declared independence, Israel was among the first nations to recognize Estonia's independence in 1991.[2]

On 16 November 2000 Estonia and Israel signed agreement on abolition of the visa requirement for holders of diplomatic, service and ordinary passports which entered into force on 7 October 2001.[3]

Estonia adopted the IHRA definition of antisemitism[4] and Estonia is one of the countries to boycott Durban IV Conference in 2021.[5]

After the massacre of 7 October made by Hamas, the Estonian parliament condemned the massacre with 78 votes in favor and none opposed.[6] The Estonian police arrested five who distribute antisemitic and pro-Hamas leaflets in Tallinn on 7 November.[7] In 2024 Estonia suspended funding to UNRWA due to Hamas links accusations.[8]

On 21 November 2024, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for two senior Israeli officials, Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, and Yoav Gallant, the former Minister of Defense of Israel, Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna acknowledged the arrest warrants and Estonia's obligations as a state party to the ICC, but also voiced scepticism that the order would contribute to "a lasting peace in the Middle East."[9]

Economic and trade relations

[edit]

On 13 March 1994 Estonia and Israel signed an Protection on investment agreements which entered into force on 22 May 1995,[10]{{ and on 29 June 2009 Estonia and Israel signed an Avidness double taxation agreement which entered into force on 31 December 2009.[11]

Trade

[edit]

Israel and Estonia trade is also influenced by the EU - Israel Free Trade Agreement from 1995.[12][13]

Estonia - Israel trade in millions USD-$[14][15][16][17][18][19][20]
Israel imports

Estonia exports

Estonia imports

Israel exports

Total trade value
2023 64.1 16.9 81
2022 69.4 12.6 82
2021 64.3 17.3 81.6
2020 72.3 8.7 81
2019 87 9.7 96.7
2018 66.6 12 78.6
2017 56.9 9.2 66.1
2016 52.2 9.7 61.9
2015 58.2 11.6 69.8
2014 89.9 16.9 106.8
2013 69.6 17.7 87.3
2012 48.3 15.9 64.2
2011 56.4 13.5 69.9
2010 46.1 10.3 56.4
2009 35.8 7.6 43.4
2008 46.2 13.7 59.9
2007 26.3 16.6 42.9
2006 22.2 13.9 36.1
2005 23.4 8.8 32.2
2004 25.1 4 29.1
2003 16.1 5.2 21.3
2002 15.6 1.9 17.5

The Israeli defense industry is popular among the Estonian military, especially after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Estonia bought in 2019 the Israeli Rafael-made Spike LR Missiles, anti-tank guided missiles for €40 million.[21] In 2023 Estonia ordered from the Israel Aerospace Industries in a 100M€ deal.[2] In September 2023 Israel delivered Estonia 1000 new Negev NG7 machine guns of the Israel Weapon Industries (IWI).[22] In 2024 Estonia received the Blue Spear an Israeli and Singaporean mobile anti-ship missile system.[23]

Cultural, educational, and scientific relations

[edit]

On 12 July 1993 Estonia and Israel signed an agreement on cultural, educational, and scientific cooperation which was entered into force on 4 August 1998.

Since 2014 MustonenFest Tallinn – Tel Aviv which was founded by Andres Mustonen is taking place every year and has become a major annual cultural exchange event for both Estonia and Israel. The MustonenFest mostly focus on classical, jazz and world music.[24][better source needed][1]

In December 2024 the Estonian Academy of Arts (EKA) decided to cut ties with the Israeli Shenkar College, decision which was criticized and made the rector of the Estonian Academy of Arts to review the decision.[25][26][27]

Visits

[edit]
Visits of officials[1]
Year Visit Note
November 2001 The Israeli Minister of National Infrastructures Avigdor Lieberman visit Estonia
November 2004 The Estonian prime minister Juhan Parts visit Israel The first Estonian prime minister to visit Israel
September 2005 The Israeli President President Moshe Katzav visit Estonia The first Israeli president to visit Estonia
January 2007 The Estonian Minister of Foreign Affairs Urmas Paet visits Israel
May 2007 Jona Metzger the Chief Rabbi of Israel, and Shimon Peres the Deputy Prime Minister of Israel visit Estonia, regarding the opening of the Tallinn synagogue. (Two months before Shimon Peres became the president of Israel)
November 2009 The Estonian Minister of Foreign Affairs Urmas Paet visits Israel
June 2010 The Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves visit Israel The first Estonian president to visit Israel
August 2010 The Israeli Minister Michael Eitan visit Estonia
December 2010 Delegation of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu visit Israel
May 2011 The Israeli Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Daniel Ayalon visit Estonia
November 2012 The Estonian Minister of Culture Rein Lang visit Israel
December 2012 The Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip visit Israel
September 2013 Rina Frenkel, Chairperson of the Knesset Estonian Friendship Group visit Estonia
November 2013 The Estonian Minister of Agriculture Helir-Valdor Seeder visit Israel
May 2014 Knesset delegation led by Deputy Speaker Gila Gamliel visit Estonia
January 2016 The Estonian Minister of Foreign Affairs Marina Kaljurand visit Israel
January 2017 The Knesset speaker Yuli-Yoel Edelstein visit Estonia
March 2017 The Estonian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sven Mikser visit Israel
May 2017 The Israeli Minister for Social Equality Gila Gamliel visit Estonia
June 2017 The Estonian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sven Mikser visit Israel
October 2017 The Estonian Minister of Entrepreneurship and Information Technology Urve Palo visit Israel
May 2018 The Estonian Minister of Education and Research Mailis Reps visit Israel
June 2018 The Estonian Minister of Justice Urmas Reinsalu visit Israel
November 2018 The President of the Riigikogu Eiki Nestor visit Israel
The Estonian Minister of Entrepreneurship and Information Technology Rene Tammist visit Israel
June 2019 The Estonian Minister of the Interior Mart Helme visit Israel
April 2022 The Estonian Minister of Entrepreneurship and Information Technology Andres Sutt visit Israel
May 2022 The Estonian Minister of Foreign Affairs Eva Maria Liimets visit Israel
November 2022 The Israeli Minister of Culture and Sports Hili Tropper visit Estonia

Jewish community

[edit]
See also: History of the Jews in Estonia and The Holocaust in Estonia
Tallinn Synagogue

In 1939 there were about 4,500 living in Estonia, mostly in Tallinn. Other communities existed in artu, Valga, Parnu, Narva, Viljandi, Rakvere, Voru, and Nomme.[28] According the World Jewish Congress in 2023 there are almost 2,000 Jews living in Estonia.[29] In 1990 the Jewish School in Tallinn was re-opened. In 2007 a new Synagogue was opened in Tallinn. In 2008 the Estonian Jewish Museum was opened.[30]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c "Israel | Välisministeerium". Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Estonia).
  2. ^ a b "Estonia | Ministry of Foreign Affairs". Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Israel). The Israeli Embassy covering Estonia is located in Helsinki, and diplomats from this location frequently travel to Estonia. Israel was among the first nations to recognize Estonia's independence in 1991. Since then, the states' relationship has flourished, characterized by an active dialogue and shared experiences.
  3. ^ "Eesti Vabariigi valitsuse ja Iisraeli Riigi valitsuse vaheline kokkulepe viisanõude tühistamise kohta diplomaatiliste, teenistus- ja tavaliste passide omanikele–Riigi Teataja" [Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Estonia and the Government of the State of Israel on the abolition of the visa requirement for holders of diplomatic, service and ordinary passports]. Riigi Teataja (in Estonian). Government of Estonia. 7 October 2001. RT II 2001, 24, 124.
  4. ^ Klein, Zvika (16 March 2022). "865 entities have adopted or endorsed IHRA definition of antisemitism". The Jerusalem Post.
  5. ^ "38 countries boycott antisemitic Durban IV Conference". World Jewish Congress. 24 September 2021.
  6. ^ "Estonia's Riigikogu votes in favor of Israel statement of support". Eesti Rahvusringhääling. 19 December 2023.
  7. ^ Tambur, Silver (9 November 2023). "Anti-Jewish leaflets distributed in Tallinn, people arrested for chanting Hamas slogans at protest". Estonian World.
  8. ^ "Estonia suspends funding to UNRWA over Hamas collusion claims". Eesti Rahvusringhääling. 29 January 2024.
  9. ^ "Comment by Foreign Minister Tsahkna on the decision of the ICC to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister and former Defence Minister". Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 21 November 2024. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  10. ^ Agreement Between the Government of the State of Israel and the Government of the Republic of Estonia for the Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investments (PDF) (Report). Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Israel) – via gov.li.
  11. ^ Convention Between the State of Israel and the Republic of Estonia for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income (PDF) (Report). 2009 – via gov.li.
  12. ^ Agreement in the Form of an Exchange of Letters Between the European Community and the State of Israel Concerning Reciprocal Liberalisation Measures on Agricultural Products, Processed Agricultural Products and Fish and Fishery Products, the Replacement of Protocols 1 and 2 and their Annexes and Amendments to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement Establishing an Association Between the European Communities and their Member States, of the One Part and the State of Israel, of the Other Part (PDF) (Report) – via gov.li.
  13. ^ Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the State of Israel, of the other part (PDF) (Report). Official Journal of the European Union. 21 June 2000 – via gov.li.
  14. ^ "סחר החוץ לפי ארצות בשנת 2023" [Foreign trade by country in 2023]. Israel Central Bureau of Statistics (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2024-11-28.
  15. ^ "סחר החוץ לפי ארצות בשנת 2020" [Foreign trade by country 2020]. Israel Central Bureau of Statistics (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2024-11-28.
  16. ^ "סחר החוץ לפי ארצות בשנת 2017" [Foreign trade by country 2017]. Israel Central Bureau of Statistics (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2024-11-28.
  17. ^ "סחר החוץ לפי ארצות בשנת 2014" [Foreign trade by country 2014]. Israel Central Bureau of Statistics (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2024-11-28.
  18. ^ "סחר החוץ של ישראל לפי ארצות בשנת 2011" [Foreign trade by country 2011]. Israel Central Bureau of Statistics (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2024-11-28.
  19. ^ "סחר החוץ לפי ארצות בשנת 2008" [Foreign trade by country 2008]. Israel Central Bureau of Statistics (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2024-11-28.
  20. ^ "סחר החוץ לפי ארצות בשנת 2005" [Foreign trade by country 2005]. Israel Central Bureau of Statistics (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2024-11-28.
  21. ^ Arkin, Dan (23 June 2019). "Estonia Buys Spike LR Missiles in $45 Million Deal | Israel Defense". israeldefense.co.il.
  22. ^ "IWI delivers first batch of Negev NG7 machine guns to Estonia - Defence Industry Europe". defence-industry.eu. 30 September 2023.
  23. ^ "Long-range anti-ship missile system arrives in Estonia". Eesti Rahvusringhääling. 10 February 2024.
  24. ^ "Tallinn - Tel Aviv Festival | מוסטונןפסט טאלין תל-אביב | קונצרטים בישראל".
  25. ^ Bartov, Shira Li (20 December 2024). "Estonian government rebukes university for cutting ties with Israeli institution". The Times of Israel.
  26. ^ Oskolkov, Petr (13 January 2025). "Public discourse in Estonia concerning the Academy of Arts' anti-Israeli decision". Begin–Sadat Center for Strategic Studies.
  27. ^ "Estonian art academy severs cooperation with Israeli partner college". Eesti Rahvusringhääling. 17 December 2024.
  28. ^ "Estonia". Holocaust Encyclopedia. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.
  29. ^ "Community in Estonia - World Jewish Congress". World Jewish Congress.
  30. ^ "Jews in Estonia – Tel Aviv". telaviv.mfa.ee. Embassy of Estonia in Tel Aviv.
[edit]