Messy Diplomacy: Western Balkan Countries Facing the Gaza Conflict
Messy Diplomacy: Western Balkan Countries Facing the Gaza Conflict

Author(s): Srđan Cvijić, Vuk Vuksanović
Subject(s): International relations/trade, Security and defense, Military policy, Inter-Ethnic Relations, Peace and Conflict Studies
Published by: BCBP Beogradski centar za bezbednosnu politiku
Keywords: Gaza Conflict; Russian invasion of Ukraine; Western Balkans; UN General Assembly; Hamas
Summary/Abstract: The ongoing war that Israel is waging in Gaza against Hamas is one of the most consequential conflicts with serious political implications worldwide. The Gaza conflict has already diverted the world’s attention from what has been the most dominant international conflict in the past year and a half: the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Many countries in the Western Balkans are conflicted about what diplomatic stance to take on the Gaza war, primarily whether they should support Israel or Palestine or remain neutral since their decision-making will have to balance their domestic public, as well as their ties with Israel, Muslim countries and, most importantly, the US and the EU. The vote taken on October 26 in the UN General Assembly (hereinafter: UNGA) on the resolution that called for a truce between Israel and Hamas with a strong emphasis on humanitarian factors demonstrated how conflicted the Western Balkan countries were on the current conflict in Gaza.

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