The Albanian Parliament on Monday launched an Israel Allies Caucus, in an expansion of faith-based diplomacy to the Muslim-majority nation in the Balkans which has a historic friendship with the Jewish people dating back to World War II.
The move comes amid a postwar diplomatic push by Israel from Africa and Europe to the Pacific Islands after a volatile period of international opprobrium from the fallout of the two-year war against Hamas in Gaza.
The new bipartisan caucus will join a global network of over 60 pro-Israel parliamentary groups worldwide run under the aegis of the Israel Allies Foundation, which spearheads faith-based diplomacy to strengthen international support for the State of Israel.
“It is a great honor to be part of this moment, marking another chapter in the long-standing friendship and cooperation between Albania and Israel,” said Albanian MP Romina Kuko of the Socialist Party, who serves as co-chair of the caucus. “The fact that this group includes representatives from both the majority and the opposition carries strong symbolic meaning, reflecting our shared national commitment and the excellent relations between our two peoples,” he added.
“It is an honor to mark a new chapter in the enduring friendship between Albania and Israel,” said Albanian MP Gazmend Bardhi of the conservative Democratic Party. “This initiative reflects our shared values and deep historical ties. Albania’s rescue of Jews during World War II remains a proud symbol of our humanity and courage.”
Ties that bind
Albania is widely recognized for being the only country in Europe that ended World War II with an increase in Jewish population, from a few hundred to about 2,000, as both Muslim and Christian Albanian families sheltered and protected Jewish refugees, at great personal risk.
Almost all the Jews living in Muslim-majority Albania during the Holocaust were saved despite the Nazi occupation.
“Albania has a remarkable legacy of protecting and honoring the Jewish people, and this new caucus will build on that moral tradition,” said Josh Reinstein, president of the Israel Allies Foundation. “We are proud to welcome Albania into our global network at a moment when standing with Israel is more important than ever.”
During the evening launch ceremony at the parliament in Tirana, the 11 parliamentarians from the three main political parties who make up the new caucus signed a declaration affirming their commitment to stand with Israel, oppose antisemitism and boycott campaigns and promote Jerusalem as the eternal capital of the Jewish people.
“The establishment of the Israel Allies Caucus in the Albanian Parliament marks a significant step forward in the friendship between Albania and Israel and demonstrates how Israel unites parties across Albania’s political spectrum around shared democratic values and a commitment to stronger bilateral ties,” said Leo van Doesburg, Europe Director of the Israel Allies Foundation.
