Israel–Malta relations

Israeli–Maltese relations are the official relations between the State of Israel and the Republic of Malta which encompasses the diplomatic, economic, and cultural interactions. Israel and Malta have maintained mixed relations since ties were established in 1965, with an extended period of tension in between 1973 and 1987.^[1][2]

Israeli–Maltese relations

Malta	Israel

History

Main article: History of the Jews in Malta

Jews have resided in Malta since antiquity; a Jewish community is attested on the islands by the 4th-5th century. Jews prospered in Malta prior to being expelled in 1492, and a community could only re-establish itself after 1798 under British rule. In the 19th and 20th century, the Jewish community in Malta welcomed Jewish refugees from Italy and Central Europe, escaping Nazi persecution. Today, a small community of around 300 remains well established on the islands.

Menorah indicating the presence of Jewish burials in St. Paul's Catacombs in Rabat, Malta

The first Jew to have set foot on Malta is traditionally considered to be Paul of Tarsus, an Israelite who was from the Roman province of Judea, in modern Israel, whose ship according to the legend foundered there in 62 CE.^[3][4]

Six burial sites with carved menorahs in the Rabat catacombs (each with a dozen tombs) indicate that Jews lived side by side with Christians and pagans in Malta during the 4th and 5th centuries, during late Roman and then Byzantine times. The community, led by a council of elders (gerousia), could have gathered up to 300 persons.^[5][6][7]

Early engagements

Israel and Malta were both part of the British Empire (as Mandatory Palestine and British Malta respectively) during the early 20th century. The 1922 census of Palestine lists 38 Maltese speakers in Mandatory Palestine (12 in Jerusalem-Jaffa and 26 in the Northern District), including 33 in municipal areas (4 in Jerusalem, 2 in Jaffa, 21 in Haifa, 5 in Nazareth, and 1 in Beit Jala).^[8]

The foundation for diplomatic interactions between Israel and Malta was laid in the aftermath of World War II and the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. Malta, a member of the Commonwealth, maintained a policy of neutrality during the Arab-Israeli conflict. This neutrality allowed for diplomatic engagements to occur without significant hindrance, even during times of regional tension.

Establishment of diplomatic ties

Formal diplomatic relations between Israel and Malta were officially established on July 16, 1965.^{[citation needed]} The establishment of embassies in Tel Aviv and Valletta further solidified the foundation of their bilateral ties.

2000-present

The 21st century witnessed a growing recognition of the potential benefits of closer ties between Israel and Malta. Both nations grew closer with the accession of Malta to the European Union in 2004.^{[citation needed]}

Judaism, along with Hinduism, is recognized as a cult but not as a religion in Malta. In 2010, Jewish and Hindu groups in Malta urged Pope Benedict XVI to intervene to ensure that Malta treats all religions equally before the law.^[9][10]

In 2013 the Chabad Jewish Center in Malta was founded by Rabbi Haim Shalom Segal and his wife, Haya Moshka Segal.^[11]

Several common Maltese surnames are of Jewish origin, including Ellul, Cohen, Azzopardi, Meli, Deguara, Tabone, Lia, Cassar, and Said.^[12]