Belgrade’s New Palace has actually seen a lot. Because building started in 1911, it has actually experienced empires break down, monarchies fluctuate, Nazi profession, the coming of the Communists, the revival of Serb nationalism. Nowadays, it is the seat of the president of Serbia.
On a gorgeous early morning inside the gilded halls of the governmental palace, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic is calm and reflective. Having actually governed Serbia considering that 2017, he understands that his time will quickly pertain to an end thanks to Serbia’s two-term governmental limitation, however he still has much work to achieve.
Under Vucic’s management, Serbia has not just deepened its diplomatic and military ties with Israel however has actually likewise taken a strong position versus increasing antisemitism in Europe at a time when Jew-hatred is reaching extraordinary levels considering that the Holocaust.
In a special and comprehensive interview with The Jerusalem Post, Vucic assesses Serbia’s quick reaction to the October 7 massacre, Serbian-Israeli relations, and the nation’s distinct historic relationship with the Jewish individuals.
An imposing figure in Balkan politics, Vucic is confident to defy Brussels, Berlin, or Washington when it pertains to Serbia’s sovereignty and its relationships. His words bring the weight of a leader who has actually browsed the treacherous waters of post-Yugoslav politics.
Serbia’s response to October 7
In the consequences of the October 7 Hamas massacres in southern Israel, couple of world leaders responded as quickly and decisively as Vucic. Within 24 hr, he had actually gotten a message from President Isaac Herzog. Within 4 days, regardless of an administrative labyrinth of global defense procedures, Vucic had Serbia all set to react.
” On the 8th, at night, we got a message from Israel. ‘We require this and that. We were not definitely all set, we require it as quickly as possible,'” Vucic remembered to the Post
” I utilized to be minister of defense and I understand how it goes– licenses from the various ministries, security intelligence firms, more governmental and nongovernmental bodies … And we gathered whatever within 4 days, and we did it. It has actually never ever been attained before in this nation.”
Because that minute, defense ties in between Belgrade and Jerusalem have actually quickly deepened. Serbian arms exports to Israel reached EUR42.3 million in 2024, according to a joint report by Balkan Insight and Haaretz (based upon custom-mades information)– a thirtyfold boost from the previous year. Serbia ended up being an important link in Israel’s defense supply chain.
” I am the just one in Europe today handling military ammos with Israel,” Vucic stated. “And it is why I am typically slammed by coworkers.”
That criticism has actually been sharp. Serbian investigative outlet KRIK and the German paper Bild implicated Vucic of abnormalities in the arms offers. Vucic shook off the attacks.
” I wasn’t amazed by the level of attacks versus the Jewish state and the Jewish individuals all over Europe,” he specified.
In spite of the pressure, Vucic stays steady. “In Serbia, the scenario will constantly stay the very same. We will constantly value, regard, and like the Jewish individuals and Israel. That’s what I truly imply, that’s what I truly feel.”
That belief was felt not simply in state halls, however on the streets. As Israeli sports groups, both in soccer and basketball, rushed to discover locations appropriate for hosting their “home” matches in European competitors in the middle of a degrading security scenario, continuous rocket fire, and global boycotts, Serbia opened its arms.
” Maccabi Tel Aviv was hosting their video games here in Belgrade, Maccabi Haifa was here, and [in] Vojvodina,” Vucic stated. “It has actually never ever occurred that we had any type of occurrence. Not even in our larger arenas– both Belgrade groups. You could not hear a single antisemitic motto or banner, absolutely nothing at all throughout the crisis beginning with October 7. Not a single bad word. Not a single offense versus gamers, coaches, absolutely nothing at all. I am really happy with that.”
It remained in this context of increasing cooperation that Vucic exposed he had actually likewise been working behind the scenes to assist protect the release of captive Alon Ohel.
Vucic described to the Post that he personally attracted Arab leaders to assist protect the release of Israeli-Serbian resident Ohel, who was abducted by Hamas on October 7 and is still kept in Gaza after more than 600 days.
” I fulfilled his household a number of times,” Vucic stated. “I was so touched by the method they existed the case of their kid and grand son when they were here. They were so happy therefore dignified. They were doing whatever in a solemn, severe method, doing whatever to assist.”
The young double nationwide was participating in the Supernova music celebration near Re’im when Hamas terrorists stormed into Israel, and recently he passed 600 days in captivity. His household exposed in April that they had actually gotten details from launched captives that Ohel was now blind in one eye.
” Alon is hurt. He lost sight in one eye, and we understand that his other eye can be conserved,” his dad, Kobi Ohel, stated at the time.
Captured on October 7 from the “death shelter” together with extra captives, consisting of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Ohel sustained shrapnel injuries from a few of the grenades tossed into the shelter, his mom, Idit, stated.
He was then physically mistreated and tortured, his mom stated, including that he got “disgraceful treatment from Hamas– a 19-year-old stitched him up with needle and thread, without any pain reliever.”
Vucic explained his peaceful however identified efforts behind the scenes to collect details and advocate help.
” I asked a few of my pals in the Middle East for aid, and we got some information that he lived,” Vucic shared. “Obviously, you never ever understand. It is extremely tough communicating this kind of message to the mom who is awaiting her kid. However I stated to her, ‘I can not ensure it, however we know that he lives.’ And after that we got main details that he lived, that he was hurt and travelling through tough times.”
Vucic included that Serbia had actually done all it might within its restricted capability, highlighting the value of global cooperation in such cases. “We will constantly do our finest. He is our resident, he is an Israeli resident. He is simply a boy who can live. We have some pals in the Arab world, too, buddies, and I am pleading those individuals to assist look after that young guy and complimentary him as quickly as possible. I was truly pleading my pals for his life.”
Vucic has actually established exceptional ties with lots of Arab nations throughout his presidency, most especially United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The Serbian leader booked unique appreciation for Ohel’s household. “His household is incredible– his grandparents. That was the very first time I saw how Israelis and Jewish individuals have the ability to bear that kind of concern on their shoulders. It was not a simple conference at all, however this is what I saw. What can you state to a mom who is awaiting her kid, and not dissatisfy their expectations?”
Assessing the scenarios of Ohel’s kidnapping, Vucic included: “These individuals are civilians. Existing at a music celebration, listening to the music– that was their most significant sin.”
Trade in between Serbia and Israel
Beyond military weaponries, trade and financial investment ties in between Serbia and Israel have actually reached extraordinary levels, marking a brand-new chapter in bilateral relations. According to the Statistical Workplace of the Republic of Serbia, exports from Serbia to Israel rose by 196.2% in the very first 2 months of 2025 alone. In 2024, overall trade in between the 2 nations struck a record $199.2 m., with Serbian exports up 75.2% and imports up 40.9%.
Over the previous 4 years, trade has actually tripled, placing Israel as Serbia’s leading export location in the Middle East and its fourth-largest beyond Europe, regardless of the lack of an open market arrangement, which presidents Herzog and Vucic revealed strategies to pursue throughout Herzog’s 2024 see to Belgrade. Much of this work has actually been led by financiers on the Israeli side, and the Serbian Chamber of Commerce and Market, it’s Jerusalem Agent Workplace Director and Honorary Consul of Serbia to Israel Aleksandar Nikolic.
Serbia’s Jewish Foreign Minister Marko Djuric likewise checked out Israel previously this year, in a mutual indication of the growing ties in between the 2 countries.
Serbia’s exports to Israel are extremely varied, varying from automobile parts, gas turbines, and equipment to farming products and ended up chemical items. Serbian imports from Israel concentrate on hi-tech products, medical and optical devices, air travel elements, and tropical fruit and vegetables. On the other hand, people-to-people connections have actually deepened, with Israeli tourist to Serbia increasing 73% in early 2025, and over night stays leaping 86.5%.
Israeli financial investments in Serbia cover essential sectors, consisting of renewable resource, property, and hi-tech.
Noteworthy tasks consist of Enlight Energy’s wind farms in Kovacica and Pupin, Nofar Energy’s EUR25m. solar park in Ada, and significant advancements by AFI Europe and BIG shopping mall in Belgrade. Serbia and Israel are likewise working together in biotech and cybersecurity, locations both countries think about tactical top priorities.
Amidst this financial momentum, Serbia’s global monetary reliability has actually enhanced. In October, S&P updated the nation to financial investment grade for the very first time, mentioning strong development and external buffers. Fitch Rankings followed in February by declaring Serbia’s favorable outlook, indicating self-confidence in its financial management– even in the middle of political unpredictabilities.
” We have an Israeli-constructed horizon here in Belgrade, and after that, near to the banks of the Sava, something constructed by the UAE. This is Belgrade; I am really happy with that,” Vucic stated.
Israel’s function in Srebrenica resolution
Israel’s abstention from the 2024 UN General Assembly resolution marking July 11 as the International Day of Reflection on the Srebrenica Genocide was not lost on Vucic.
” When we were dealing with the Srebrenica resolution in the UNGA, we revealed that we had the ability to collect a bulk of the nations versus even the larger powers. Nevertheless, it was an extremely tough subject for us,” he described.
” They brought in lots of Islamic nations due to the fact that of the problem of Srebrenica. We were really glad to Israel that they did not enact favor of the resolution. I believe it was very important for Israel and the Jewish individuals, due to the fact that next time it might be you subjected to such a resolution at the UNGA, and Serbia will not enact favor.”
Antisemitism in Serbia
Unlike some European equivalents, the Serb leader has actually regularly placed his nation as a safe and inviting location for Jews. Vucic promotes Serbia’s record, which differs from that of much of Europe, where antisemitism is as soon as again growing.
” It is a growing number of present, these sort of antisemitic sensations in Europe, however we will need to handle it. The quicker the much better. This will bring us as soon as again to the precipice,” he alerted.” I do not comprehend how it ended up being political style, disliking Jews.”
Vucic’s own views and affinity have actually been affected by both his household’s suffering which of the Serb individuals. He has actually exposed in the previous how his grandpa was killed by Ustase in The Second World War, Croatians who formed a puppet state under the Nazis and performed atrocities on Jews, Serbs, and Roma individuals.
In 2016, Serbia passed a landmark law offering restitution for heirless Jewish residential or commercial property seized throughout the Holocaust. Just a handful of nations have actually taken such legal actions. In 2020, under Vucic’s management, the Serbian National Assembly developed the Memorial Center Staro Sajmiste, to honor Holocaust victims.
Staro Sajmiste is the website of a prisoner-of-war camp developed throughout the German profession in the city of Belgrade itself, simply throughout the Sava River from the fortress. Countless Jews and Serbs travelled through its gates, after the Germans turned the previous exhibit premises into a camp. Jews were drawn from the camp and repelled in vans, where they were gassed utilizing exhaust fumes– a speculative precursor to the gas chambers of Poland.
The website is presently going through repair (the Post was offered a trip of the website), however funds are doing not have to finish the objective of turning it into a museum.
” You understand, I am really upset with myself,” Vucic specified when inquired about the law. “I heard there were some issues, and I didn’t follow the whole procedure, and now I am interesting myself as soon as again to complete whatever down there. Since if I do not do it, no one will.”
” We require to do it for our future. Individuals will need to go to that location, individuals will need to see what occurred there and comprehend what occurred there, so absolutely nothing comparable can occur to us at any time in the future.
” Although we are doing things no one else is carrying out in Europe, we need to speed it up.”
In January 2020, to mark International Holocaust Remembrance Day, a yellow flag, similar to the badges Jews were required to use throughout the Holocaust, was flown beside the Serbian flag on top of the governmental palace.
Vucic tweeted an image of the flag on Tuesday early morning, together with the message in both English and Serbian: “This badge was a sign of the tried damage of the Jews by the Nazis. Now it is a sign of honor. 75 years after. Never ever once again.”
Thinking back, he remembered, “The only flag that was raised here [at the presidential palace], apart from the Serbian and EU flags [because of EU candidacy], was an unique, yellow Jewish flag. No other flags.
Individuals have actually asked me to put football flags, nationwide group, LGBT, and so on. None have actually flown apart from the Jewish flag.”
Yet the president stays disrupted by antisemitic presentations emerging in other places: “When I see this mass hysteria versus Jewish individuals at some universities in the United States and all over the world, I do not comprehend whether these individuals truly understand what occurred to the Jews, or they think they are smarter than everyone. It’s really unfortunate, and in the end it’s really incorrect and it’s really foolish.”
Israel’s good friend in the Balkans
Vucic is a guy comfy creating his own course. He is totally lined up neither with Brussels nor with Washington, however sees Serbia’s fate in principled self-reliance.
” I have actually never ever concealed who my pals are. It does not matter whom I talk to. If someone asks me about Bibi or Isaac [Herzog], it will constantly be the very same favorable things. And I do not care who asks me. This is the strength of the Serbian position– that we can state what we believe.”
He sees Serbia and Israel as kindred countries.
” We are here at a crossroads of various faiths, of various worlds. Someplace in the middle, we require to endure. Who is going to look after us?” he informed the Post.
” Israel has an extremely unique relationship with the United States, however apart from that, exists anybody whom you truly think in, apart from yourself? Today, it is just yourselves that you can think in, nobody else. That’s why you do your finest to be as strong as possible in order to safeguard yourselves. Which’s what we require to do here also.”
” Our ties with Jews and Israelis– this is something various from a historic viewpoint as much as today day. This isn’t policy or existing politics, no. This is our politics of perpetuity, and it will constantly need to stay so.”
The author was a visitor of the Serbian governmental palace.