Israel–Luxembourg relations

Israel–Luxembourg relations

Israel
Luxembourg

Israel–Luxembourg relations are the bilateral relations of Israel and Luxembourg.

Both Israel and Luxembourg do not have embassies in each other's countries. Israel is represented in Luxemburg via its embassy in Brussels. Luxemburg is represented in Israel by the embassy of the Netherlands and the embassy of Belgium for consular service. Luxembourg also a trade and investment Office in Tel Aviv.[1][2]

Luxembourg is considered one of the most anti-Israel EU member states,[3] in spite of a historically large Jewish population living in the Grand Duchy, that largely influenced the country's society.

History

Luxembourg was among the 33 countries that voted in favor of the Partition Plan on 29 November 1947. Israel and Luxembourg have established relations on November 1950. The Reparations Agreement between Israel and the Federal Republic of Germany was signed in Luxembourg on 10 September 1952. In February 1985, the President of Israel, Haim Herzog, visited Luxembourg. In May 1987, the Grand Duke Jean and Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte of Luxembourg made an historic visit to Israel. During their stay, they visited Yad Vashem memorial, and the Diaspora Museum, where they were given a history of the Jewish community of Luxembourg.[4] On the 13 of December 2004 Israel and Luxembourg have signed on an Avidness of Double Taxation Agreement.[5]

In 2019, Luxembourg’s former prime minister Xavier Bettel decided to boycott the farewell dinner for the Israeli ambassador as a mean of protest against the former Education Minister of Israel, Rafi Peretz, who commented against conversion therapy. The boycott of Bettel was criticized by the former Justice Minister of Israel, Amir Ohana, as Ohana wrote that the comment of Rafi Peretz was widely denounced and strongly condemned, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Ohana also mentioned that Bettel had no problem to shake hands with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif.[6]

In 2019, the former Foreign Minister of Luxembourg Jean Asselborn pushed other European countries to unilaterally recognize Palestine.[7] In August 2020 Luxemburg was the only EU country to criticize the Abraham Accords, as the former Foreign Minister of Luxembourg Jean Asselborn claimed that the normalization between Israel and the United Arab Emirates is abandonment of the Palestinians by the United Arab Emirates.[8]

In 2024, the Foreign Minister of Luxembourg Xavier Bettel considered opening embassy in Tel Aviv,[9] and at same year Bettel had a working visit in Israel and the Palestinian Authority.[10]

Trade

Trade between Israel and Luxemburg is influenced by the EU-Israel Free Trade Agreement of 1995.[11][12]

Israel - Luxemburg trade in millions USD-$[13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20]
Israel imports

Luxemburg exports

Luxemburg imports

Israel exports

Total trade value
2023 141 48.7 189.7
2022 187 42.9 229.9
2021 166.3 19.9 186.2
2020 189.6 21.7 211.3
2019 141.6 12.6 154.2
2018 180.9 16.7 197.6
2017 178.8 17.3 196.1
2016 152.7 19.4 172.1
2015 195.3 22.2 217.5
2014 223.9 22.3 246.2
2013 242.3 20 262.3
2012 181.2 14.8 196
2011 219.8 13 232.8
2010 185 14.3 199.3
2009 117 10.8 127.8
2008 174 20.4 194.4
2007 91.9 15.3 107.2
2006 46.5 8.8 55.3
2005 30.5 11 41.5
2004 21 8.6 29.6
2003 29.7 4.3 34
2002 28.6 3.5 32.1

See also

References

  1. ^ https://new.embassies.gov.il/belgium/en/the-embassy/relations-luxembourg-israel
  2. ^ "Missions diplomatiques et consulaires luxembourgeoises".
  3. ^ "Luxembourg called out at UN as "most anti-Israel EU member state"". 4 October 2023.
  4. ^ https://new.embassies.gov.il/belgium/en/the-embassy/relations-luxembourg-israel
  5. ^ https://www.gov.il/BlobFolder/dynamiccollectorresultitem/luxembourg_dta-eng/en/international_agreements_luxembourg_dtpa-eng.pdf
  6. ^ "Israel's gay justice minister to Luxembourg's gay PM: You shun us, but not Iran?". The Times of Israel.
  7. ^ "Luxembourg said pushing for EU states to recognize Palestine". The Times of Israel.
  8. ^ "Luxembourg FM: UAE 'let down' the Palestinians with Israel deal". The Times of Israel.
  9. ^ "Xavier Bettel confirms: Luxembourg considers opening embassy in Israel, cooperation office in Palestine".
  10. ^ "News". 12 September 2024.
  11. ^ https://www.gov.il/BlobFolder/policy/eu-isr-fta/he/sahar-hutz_agreements_euro-fta-agri-2010-en.pdf
  12. ^ https://www.gov.il/BlobFolder/policy/eu-isr-fta/he/sahar-hutz_agreements_euro-fta-agreement-en.pdf
  13. ^ "סחר החוץ לפי ארצות בשנת 2023". www.cbs.gov.il (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2024-11-28.
  14. ^ "סחר החוץ לפי ארצות בשנת 2020". www.cbs.gov.il (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2024-11-28.
  15. ^ "סחר החוץ לפי ארצות בשנת 2017". www.cbs.gov.il (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2024-11-28.
  16. ^ "סחר החוץ לפי ארצות בשנת 2014". www.cbs.gov.il (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2024-11-28.
  17. ^ "סחר החוץ של ישראל לפי ארצות בשנת 2011". www.cbs.gov.il (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2024-11-28.
  18. ^ "סחר החוץ של ישראל לפי ארצות בשנת 2011". www.cbs.gov.il (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2024-11-28.
  19. ^ "סחר החוץ לפי ארצות בשנת 2008". www.cbs.gov.il (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2024-11-28.
  20. ^ "סחר החוץ לפי ארצות בשנת 2005". www.cbs.gov.il (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2024-11-28.
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