Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections to Montenegro
Montenegro: its Jewish community and relations with "Israel"
About 500 Jews lived in Montenegro in 2023, according to the World Jewish Congress (WJC).[1] "Israel" recognised Montenegro shortly after its independence in 2006 and is represented by its embassy in Belgrade.[2]
Jewish community
The community includes both Ashkenazim and Sephardim. The Jewish Community of Montenegro is the WJC's affiliate and organises the annual Mahar Conference, which the WJC calls "a central meeting point for Jewish communities in the Balkan region". At the end of January 2012 the community and the government signed the Act on Mutual Relations, under which Judaism was recognised as Montenegro's fourth official religion.[1]
Israeli state and commercial ties
Diplomacy
The Israeli foreign ministry's 2011 list of missions records relations with Montenegro as established in July 2006, with "Israel" represented by its ambassador in Serbia.[2] The WJC says that "Israel" recognised Montenegro "almost immediately after its independence from Serbia".[1]
Arms trade
The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) records a 2023 Montenegrin order for Israeli CARDOM 120mm mortars (SPEAR Mk-2 version) for US-supplied JLTV vehicles.[3]
Political interference
UN voting
Montenegro voted in favour of the September 2025 General Assembly resolution endorsing the New York Declaration on a two-state solution.[4]
Jeffrey Epstein
Documents released by the US Department of Justice in the Jeffrey Epstein files include the following.
- An iMessage exchange between Epstein and Miroslav Lajčák dated 21 August 2018 includes the message "President of Montenegro is looking forward to our visit:)" and the message "Donald has a soft spot for Montenegro:)))"; the export does not make clear which participant sent each message.[5]
See also
- Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections to Albania
- Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections to Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections to Bulgaria
- Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections to Croatia
- Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections to Greece
- Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections to Kosovo
- Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections to North Macedonia
- Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections to Romania
- Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections to Serbia
- Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections to Slovenia
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 World Jewish Congress, Community in Montenegro worldjewishcongress.org, accessed 25 October 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Diplomatic Missions Abroad: Status of relations mfa.gov.il, archived 5 August 2011.
- ↑ Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, SIPRI Arms Transfers Database SIPRI, trade register for Israel as supplier, 1950–2025, data generated 20 October 2026.
- ↑ United Nations General Assembly, Recorded vote on A/80/L.1/Rev.1: Endorsement of the New York Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, 12 September 2025 (copy hosted by Al-Quds Al-Arabi).
- ↑ iMessage exchange between Jeffrey Epstein and Miroslav Lajčák, 21 August 2018, EFTA01619707, US Department of Justice, Epstein Files release, Data Set 10, copy at tommycarstensen.com/epstein, accessed 25 October 2026.