Bulgaria–Israel relations
Bilateral relations
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bulgaria–Israel relations are foreign relations between Bulgaria and Israel. Bulgaria recognized Israel on 29 November 1948 and the two countries opened embassies in 1952. Bulgaria, along with the rest of the Soviet bloc, severed diplomatic relations with Israel following the Six-Days War on 10 June 1967. Relations were officially restored at the level of embassies on 3 May 1990.[1]
Bulgaria and Israel maintain a strong friendly relationship.The Bulgarian-Israeli relationship covers many aspects of tourism, military, trade, culture, economics, education, and more.[2] Bulgaria has an embassy in Tel Aviv and Israel has an embassy in Sofia.
History
1948–1990
Bulgaria recognized Israel on 29 November 1948 and opened an embassy in 1952.
On 27 July 1955, the Bulgarian Air Force accidentally shot down El Al Flight 402 from London to Tel Aviv via Vienna. All 7 crew and 51 passengers on board were killed.[3]
On 10 June 1967 Bulgaria closed the embassy in Tel Aviv and severed diplomatic relations with Israel due to the Six-Day War. The Austrian embassy in Tel Aviv served as a Protecting power for Bulgarian interests. Bulgaria, as part of the Soviet Bloc, voted in favor of the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 3379, which determined "that Zionism is a form of racism and racial discrimination"
From 1990
After the collapse of the People's Republic of Bulgaria and the establishment of the Republic of Bulgaria, Bulgaria and Israel restored their relationship at the level of embassies on 3 May 1990.[1] In 1991 was the first state visit of Israeli prime minister, Yitzhak Shamir, to Bulgaria, and a year after in 1992, was the first state visit of Bulgarian prime minister, Filip Dimitrov, to Israel.[4]
On 16 December 1996, Bulgaria and Israel signed a Protection on Investment Agreement.[5]
On 18 January 2000, Bulgaria and Israel signed an Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement.[6]
On 15 July 2007, Bulgaria and Israel signed a visa free agreement.[7]
Economic relations
Since Bulgaria joined the European Union in 2007, Bulgaria and Israel have a Free Trade Agreement as part of the European Union Association Agreement.
| Bulgaria – Israel trade in millions USD-$[8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Israel imports
|
 Bulgaria imports
|
Total trade value | |
| 2023 | 151.2 | 78.9 | 230.1 |
| 2022 | 165.8 | 64.7 | 230.5 |
| 2021 | 143.2 | 51.2 | 194.4 |
| 2020 | 111.7 | 47.5 | 159.2 |
| 2019 | 106.6 | 39.9 | 146.5 |
| 2018 | 92 | 41 | 133 |
| 2017 | 97.8 | 51.9 | 149.7 |
| 2016 | 91 | 38.7 | 129.7 |
| 2015 | 82.7 | 88.8 | 171.5 |
| 2014 | 62.1 | 128.7 | 190.8 |
| 2013 | 62.2 | 53.8 | 116 |
| 2012 | 56.9 | 75.3 | 132.2 |
| 2011 | 62.1 | 219.3 | 281.4 |
| 2010 | 60.6 | 112.4 | 173 |
| 2009 | 42 | 69.8 | 111.8 |
| 2008 | 52 | 56.2 | 108.2 |
| 2007 | 63.8 | 54.3 | 118.1 |
| 2006 | 48.1 | 48 | 96.1 |
| 2005 | 48.2 | 42.2 | 90.4 |
| 2004 | 46 | 30.3 | 76.3 |
| 2003 | 35.2 | 23.7 | 58.9 |
| 2002 | 32.3 | 20.8 | 53.1 |
