18 - Israel-Rumania Relations to the End of the 1960s

Israel-Rumania Relations. In September 1948 the first Israel representative to Rumania, the artist Reuven Rubin, arrived in Bucharest, but neither he nor his successors succeeded in substantially developing the relations between the two countries for a number of years. Until 1965 the relations were regular but cool, especially because of the attitude of the Soviet Union toward Israel, which was strictly followed by Rumanian foreign policy. Every so often the relations between the two countries were shaken by crises that were felt on the level of diplomatic representation (the extended absence of a minister at the head of the mission) or were expressed by the expulsion of Israel diplomats. Cultural ties were not developed during the period, and trade also remained static at a modest level (in the climax year, the mutual trade balance between Israel and Rumania reached $4.5 million). These relations improved considerably, however, as Rumania grew more independent of the U.S.S.R. in international affairs. From February 1966 a Rumanian minister again headed the Rumanian mission in Israel. In March 1967 a high-level Rumanian economic delegation visited Israel for the first time, and afterward an Israel economic delegation, headed by the finance minister, went to Bucharest; full trade agreements were signed. In 1968 the trade balance between the two countries reached $20,000,000, and subsequently trade increased. Cultural relations also expanded (Israel musicians, choirs, etc. visited Rumania and the countries exchanged art exhibitions), as did tourism from each country to the other. The Six-Day War (1967) served as a decisive test in the relations between Israel and Rumania. On June 10, 1967, a consultation of all East European nations, including Yugoslavia, was held in Moscow and resulted in a denunciation of Israel’s "aggression." The participating states also decided to sever diplomatic relations with the State of Israel. Rumania, however, refused to sign the denunciation and also refused to carry out the conference's decisions. She did not sever diplomatic relations with Israel and refrained from taking part in the anti-Israel Soviet propaganda campaign. Rumania repeatedly expressed her stand that the Arab-Israel dispute must be settled by political means, taking into consideration the just rights of both sides. In August 1969 Rumania and Israel elevated their diplomatic missions to the rank of embassies.

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* Historia: Rumania