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In an exclusive interview with Albanian Daily News Ambassador Rodkin considered the introduction of direct flights between Tel-Aviv and Tirana as a significant breakthrough in the bilateral economic relations. “The number of Israeli visitors to Albania reached an all-time high in 2018, with about 15,000 Israeli citizens entering the country, an increase by 160% in comparison to 2017. This year, we expect to register yet another record-breaking figure, as the direct flights between the two countries will be more frequent and will operate during a longer period.”
Speaking of the latest parliamentary elections held in Israel on April 9 this year the Ambassador noted that as the euphoria for some and depression for others on the election results subside, Israelis are left with something extraordinary to be celebrated by everyone: Israel’s robust democracy elected its leadership again in a peaceful fashion. Further on he noted that the election results indicate that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu can establish a government with the same coalition partners he had in the previous term.
Asked on Israel’s future foreign policy, Mr. Rodkin revealed that it will proceed in the same direction, expanding its ties with strategically important countries, strengthening relationships and identifying new areas for cooperation. He said Israel and the United States have shared a unique bond ever since the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948. “The United States, under President Truman, was the first country to recognize Israel, only 11 minutes after its founding.” In the meantime, according to him, Israel today has Arab partners in the Middle East as Egypt, Jordan and several Gulf states. Asked on the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the Ambassador said no advance had been made between the parties but he declared that if the Palestinian leadership like to restart direct negotiations, in order to achieve peace and security, they would have to demonstrate their seriousness about it.
Ambassador Rodkin arrived in Albania in 2015, and, as he said, he had the privilege to visit all corners of this marvelous country.
“Wherever I go, in my diplomatic capacity or as a tourist with family and friends, I feel a genuine sense of amity towards Israel,” confessed Israel’s top envoy to Albania in the following interview:

– Mr. Ambassador, in the first place, I extend congratulations for the peaceful elections which were held on April 9 this year in Israel. Which are the expectations of the Israelis after the vote that declared as winner Mr. Netanyahu’s Likud party?

– Seventy-one years after declaring independence, Israel is one of the world’s oldest continuous democracy. It had universal suffrage from its foundation and it has continued to flourish without military coups, civil wars, emergency governments, suspensions of basic political or civil liberties, or canceling of elections to this very day, surviving even the assassination of a prime minister.
Indeed, there are a few dozen other nations which have been practicing uninterrupted democracy longer than Israel, but none have done so in conditions of ongoing conflict, repeated wars on multiple fronts, terrorism, waves of immigration in unparalleled proportions, and a population of vast linguistic, national, religious, and ethnic background.
As the euphoria for some and depression for others of the 2019 election results subside, we are left with something extraordinary to be celebrated by everyone: Israel’s robust democracy elected its leadership again in a peaceful fashion.
As for the voter’s expectations, first and foremost Israelis seek security and stability, as we are surrounded on all sides by growing threats of radical jihadism – Iran, Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood in Gaza.
But just like in other societies all over the world, Israelis also grapple with issues like the spiraling high cost of living and a whole host of other social issues, for which they would expect the new government to find some solutions.

– After his party’s victory Mr. Netanyahu has declared that he intends to finish the task quickly in order to establish a stable national government. How much successful will he be taking into consideration the tight result in the elections as well as the fact that this is his fifth time as PM?
-The election results indicate that Mr. Netanyahu can establish a government with the same coalition partners he had in the previous term, as he declared in his victory speech. He may also form a “National Unity Government” with the defeated rival Blue and White party, which would have an overwhelming majority in the parliament, but most observers consider such an option to have a slim chance of occurring.

– Arab citizens of Israel represent nearly a fifth of the country’s 5.8 million eligible voters, which could give the four Israeli Arab parties a potential kingmaker role. At this juncture is there any possibility that these parties can join a governing coalition, although they have never done so before?
-Members of Knesset (MKs) from minority groups in Israel have served since the formation of the very first Knesset in 1949, both in mainstream national parties and in sectoral parties that represent their communities’ specific interests.
Theoretically, the scenario of the Arab parties joining the coalition is possible, but most likely, they will decide to remain in opposition, since there is a wide ideological gap between them and the Likud, Mr. Netanyahu’s party.

– And, by the way, did the staff of the Embassy in Tirana and expats living in Albania cast their votes?

– Indeed, all members of the Embassy staff in Tirana joyfully fulfilled their democratic right, in an early ballot some ten days before the national vote.
According to Israeli law, private citizens living overseas cannot vote unless they travel to Israel and are present in the country on Election Day, but there is an exception made for diplomats, their spouses and children, aged 18-20, who may cast a ballot abroad.

– As a follow up, will there be any new shifts in the foreign policy of Israel under the leadership of Mr. Netanyahu? What can be new in the relations with regional countries, EU members, Russia, China and other important international factors or it will just be a continuation of the previous direction?

– Israel maintains relations with the majority of the world’s countries. Our foreign policy has been geared to advance peace and stability in our immediate region while ensuring the country’s security and promoting cooperation with all nations. In parallel, since its establishment, Israel has been eager to share with the international community skills learned from its own development experience.
In cooperation with government ministries as well as professional and academic institutions, our development agency, MASHAV, works in partnership with countries in the developing world and with those who implement reforms to revitalize growth and job creation, towards overcoming their respective challenges.
Naturally, Israel’s future government foreign policy will proceed in the same direction, expanding its ties with strategically important countries, strengthening relationships and identifying new areas for cooperation.

– The United States remains apparently Israeli’s staunchest supporter. Further evidence of it is the signing by President Donald Trump of a proclamation recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights. Earlier Trump decided to switch the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. How do you asses these moves given the fact that these critical steps have been made in defiance of overwhelming international consensus?

– Israel and the United States have shared a unique bond ever since our establishment in 1948. The United States, under President Truman, was the first country to recognize Israel, only 11 minutes after its founding. Since then, the two countries have developed a resilient friendship, based in large part on an unshakable dedication to common values. Our close strategic, economic, political and diplomatic ties promote regional peace and enhance the security of both nations.
Indeed, we are very thankful to President Trump for his decision of the United States to recognize the Golan Heights as sovereign Israeli territory. For all intents and purposes, this territory has been part of Israel since 1967. During the Six-Day War, Israel took control of the Golan Heights from Syria as a necessary self-defense measure to ensure the country’s survival. The security needs which mandated that Israel take the Golan Heights 52 years ago are no less pertinent today. Syria used the Golan’s strategic geography in two separate offensive wars against Israel in the past.
Today, Iran and Hezbollah, both of which have vowed Israel’s destruction, use Syrian territory as a front for violence against the State of Israel. By recognizing Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights, the U.S. is helping to secure the ability of its closest regional ally to defend itself. We hope that other members of the international community will follow President Trump’s example.

– Do you think, Your Excellency, that these moves will further aggravate the situation in the region making more impossible the resolution to the bloody conflict between Israeli and Palestinian people? How would you describe the level of contacts of Israeli senior officials with the Palestinian ones and other key Arab leaders?

-The Middle East has faced tectonic shifts within the last few decades, particularly since the chaos unleashed with the Arab Spring subsided. Old political notions no longer apply and the old Arab-Israeli conflict is behind us. As the last stronghold of ISIS finally surrendered, the Middle East finds itself transformed and at a turning point. The last decade, dominated by the Syrian civil war, has presented a struggle between extremist forces that have sought to exploit weak states and ungoverned territories, and existing regional and global powers whose agenda is to come out of the recent conflicts positioned to dominate the region.
Israel today has Arab partners in the Middle East. Egypt, Jordan and several Gulf states now see Israel as an indispensible ally in their confrontations with the radical and violent Islam – either the one led by radical Shiites led by Iran, or the one led by the radical Sunnis led by Daesh and al-Qaeda.
Last October, PM Netanyahu made an official visit to Oman, a neighbor of Saudi Arabia, and lately Israel’s minister of culture and sport traveled to the UAE to attend a judo tournament, where our national anthem was played during a medal ceremony.
Unfortunately, we have not made any advance with the Palestinians. Half of them, residing in the Hamas-controlled Gaza strip, are already under the gun of Iran and of radical Islam. Should the Palestinian leadership like to restart direct negotiations, in order to achieve peace and security, they would have to demonstrate their seriousness about it.

– Your Excellency, diplomatic relations between Albania and Israel were established on August 20, 1991. But Albania has recognized Israel as a state since 1949. So this is an historical year as it is the 70th anniversary of such an important event. In this frame, please, could you share with ADN’s readers the spirit and content of the bilateral ties between the two countries?

– Israel’s relations with Albania are robust and cover a broad spectrum, consisting of diplomatic, economic and security matters.
Throughout the duration of our diplomatic relations, the two governments have had an ongoing collaboration that has been materialized in various bilateral agreements in the fields of investment, trade and economic cooperation, agriculture, veterinary medicine and air services, as well as in the fields of science, education and culture.

– In the meantime, what could you say on the level of the political, economic and cultural relations between
Israel and Albania? Are you satisfied with their course?

– Indeed, our relations have gone from strength to strength, particularly since our resident embassy was opened in Tirana nearly seven years ago. A significant breakthrough in our economic relations was recorded last year with the introduction of direct flights between Tel-Aviv and Tirana.
The number of Israeli visitors to Albania reached in 2018 an all-time high, with about 15,000 Israeli citizens entering the country, an increase by 160% in comparison to 2017. This year, we expect to register yet another record-breaking figure, as the direct flights between the two countries will be more frequent and will operate during a longer period.

– Mr. Ambassador which are your impressions on Albania in the status of a ‘tourist’ and I hope you have had opportunities to sightsee this Balkan country. What message would you convey to Israeli tourists on the eve of the start of the tourist season? Of course, it is natural your message to Albanians to encourage them to visit Israel?

-Since my arrival to Albania, in 2015, I have had the privilege to visit all corners of this marvelous country, from Theth to Kakavijë, and to meet hundreds of people from all walks of life. Wherever I go, in my diplomatic capacity or as a tourist with family and friends, I feel a genuine sense of amity towards Israel.
Albanians are keenly interested in Israel’s success story, and they are proud, as they should be, of the remarkable stories of Albanian families, who sheltered Jewish families during the Second World War. I am confident that all Israeli tourists that will arrive in Albania for the first time this year will encounter the same reality, while also enjoying the beautiful landscapes, the picturesque countryside and stunning coastlines.
Naturally, I would like to invite all Albanians to visit Israel and explore it to the fullest, from our Capital City of Jerusalem, to the Dead Sea, the Galilee and Tel-Aviv.