International recognition of Israel

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

As of February 2026, the State of Israel is recognized as a sovereign state by 163 of the other 192 member states of the United Nations, or approximately 85% of all UN members. The State of Israel was formally established by the Israeli Declaration of Independence on 14 May 1948, and was admitted to the United Nations (UN) as a full member state on 11 May 1949.[1][2] It also maintains bilateral ties with all of the UNSC Permanent Five. 29[a] member states have either never formally recognized Israel or have withdrawn their recognition; others have severed diplomatic relations without explicitly withdrawing their recognition. Additionally, many non-recognizing countries have challenged Israel's existence—predominantly those in the Muslim world—due to significant animosity stemming from the Israeli–Palestinian conflict and the Arab–Israeli conflict.[3]

  Israel
  Countries that recognize Israel
  States/territories whose recognition of Israel is disputed
  Countries that have withdrawn their recognition of Israel
  Countries that have suspended or cut bilateral ties with Israel, but maintain recognition
  Countries that have never recognized Israel

History

See also: 1948 Palestine war and 1948 Palestinian expulsion and flight

On 14 May 1948, the Israeli Declaration of Independence[4] declared the establishment a Jewish state in part of the former British Mandate of Palestine, with borders formally established by the Green Line of the 1949 Armistice Agreements at the end of the 1948 Palestine war. The Arab League was opposed to any partition and to the establishment of Israel, and an Arab coalition jointly invaded the territory of the newly formed country one day after its independence, sparking the 1948 Arab–Israeli War.

Following Israel's establishment, the Israeli provisional government was established to govern the Yishuv; and while military operations were still in progress, it was promptly granted de facto recognition by the United States,[5][6] followed by Iran (which had voted against the Partition Plan), Guatemala, Iceland, Nicaragua, Romania, and Uruguay. The Soviet Union was the first country to grant de jure recognition to Israel on 17 May 1948,[7] followed by Nicaragua, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, and Poland.[8] The United States extended de jure recognition after the first Israeli election,[9] on 31 January 1949.[10]

By the late 1960s, Israel had established diplomatic relations with almost all of the countries of Western Europe, North America, South America, and Sub-Saharan Africa combined.

To put additional diplomatic, economic, and military pressure on Israel in the wake of the 1967 Arab–Israeli War, oil-producing Arab countries imposed an oil embargo on countries that had bilateral relations with Israel. As a result, many African and Asian countries broke off their ties with Israel. The Soviet Union also shifted its support in favour of the Arab cause against Israel during this time, leading most countries of the Eastern Bloc to sever diplomatic ties in 1967; these included the Soviet Union itself, as well as Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, and Bulgaria. Other countries in the Soviet sphere of influence, such as the People's Republic of China and Mongolia, also did not establish relations with Israel. Diplomatic relations with these countries were restored or established following the collapse of the Eastern Bloc in 1989. The Soviet Union restored relations in October 1991, and new countries that had gained independence after the dissolution of the Soviet Union also recognised Israel in their own right. China established relations in January 1992.

On 1 September 1967, the then-eight members of the Arab League issued the Khartoum Resolution, which included three pledges that forbade recognition, peace, and negotiations with Israel. However, Egypt, Jordan, and Mauritania gradually recognized Israel, though Mauritania broke off ties and withdrew recognition in 2010. As part of the 2020 Abraham Accords, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Morocco all established normalized bilateral ties with Israel, with Sudan announcing its plan (never completed) to.[11][12] Pressure was again exerted by the Arab League after the 1973 Arab–Israeli War, which led Cuba, Mali, and the Maldives to break off ties with Israel. Niger severed bilateral ties with Israel during the Second Intifada, and Venezuela broke off ties after the 2008–2009 Gaza War.

Following Israel's recognition of and entering into negotiations with the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), many African, Asian, and Arab countries either restored or established diplomatic relations with Israel. The Vatican began a bilateral relationship with Israel in 1994. Some countries[b][c] broke or suspended relations during the 2006 Lebanon War and after the blockade of the Gaza Strip. Although Guinea broke diplomatic ties with Israel in 1967, Israel's extensive support for Guinea during its fight against an Ebola virus epidemic led to the re-establishment of bilateral relations in 2016.[18] Nicaragua restored relations in March 2017; Chad did likewise in January 2019.[19] The most recent country to establish diplomatic relations with Israel was Bhutan, on 12 December 2020.[20]

United Nations membership

On 15 May 1948, one day after its independence, Israel applied for membership with the United Nations (UN), but the application was not acted on by the Security Council. Israel's second application was rejected by the Security Council on 17 December 1948 by a 5-to-1 vote, with 5 abstentions. Syria was the sole negative vote; the United States, Argentina, Colombia, the Soviet Union, and the Ukrainian SSR voted in favour; and Belgium, the United Kingdom, Canada, China, and France abstained.

Israel's application was renewed in 1949 after the first Israeli election. By Security Council Resolution 69 on 4 March 1949, the UN Security Council voted 9-to-1 in favour of Israeli membership, with Egypt voting against and the United Kingdom abstaining.[21] Those voting in favour were China, France, the United States, the Soviet Union, Argentina, Canada, Cuba, Norway, and the Ukrainian SSR.

On 11 May 1949, the UN General Assembly, by the requisite two-thirds majority of its then-58 members, approved the application to admit Israel to the UN by General Assembly Resolution 273.[22][23] The vote in the General Assembly was 37 to 12, with 9 abstentions. Those that voted in favour of Israel were: Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, the Byelorussian SSR, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, France, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Iceland, Liberia, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, the Ukrainian SSR, South Africa, the Soviet Union, the United States, Uruguay, Venezuela, and Yugoslavia. Those that voted against were six of the then-seven members of the Arab League (Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Yemen) as well as Afghanistan, Burma, Ethiopia, India, Iran, and Pakistan. Those abstaining were: Belgium, Brazil, Denmark, El Salvador, Greece, Siam, Sweden, Turkey, and the United Kingdom.[24] Many of the countries that voted in favour or had abstained had already recognized Israel before the UN vote, at least on a de facto basis. Of these countries, Cuba and Venezuela have since withdrawn recognition.

Present situation

Legend:
  Israel
  Countries that reject passports from Israel
  Countries that reject passports from Israel and any other passport that contains Israeli stamps or visas

As of February 2026, 163 of the 192 other member states of the United Nations (UN) recognize Israel. 29 UN member states do not formally recognize Israel: 15 members of the Arab League (Algeria, Comoros, Djibouti, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, and Yemen); 11 non-Arab members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Brunei, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, and Pakistan); and 3 other members Cuba, North Korea, and Venezuela.[25] In 2002, the Arab League proposed the recognition of Israel by Arab countries as a pathway towards a resolution of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict under the Arab Peace Initiative. Following the Abraham Accords, which were signed in September 2020 between Israel and the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, the Palestinian National Authority condemned any Arab agreement with Israel as dishonourable, describing them as a betrayal to the Palestinian cause and a blow to their quest for an independent Palestinian state.[26]

The passports of some countries are not valid for travel to Israel, including Bangladesh, Brunei, Iran, Iraq, and Pakistan. Thirteen countries do not accept Israeli passports: Algeria, Bangladesh, Brunei, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Yemen.[27] Some of these countries also do not accept passports of other countries whose holder has an Israeli visa or stamp on it. The stamp may be a visa stamp, or a stamp on entry or departure. Because of these issues, Israeli immigration controls do not stamp passports with an entry visa, instead issuing a separate insert which is discarded on departure. However, a stamp of another country which indicates that the person has entered Israel may frustrate that effort. For example, if an Egyptian departure stamp is used in any passport at the Taba Border Crossing, that is an indication that the person entered Israel, and a similar situation arises for land crossings into Jordan. Some countries also ban direct flights and overflights to and from Israel.[28] In August 2020, the United Arab Emirates permitted direct flights from Israel, and Saudi Arabia and Bahrain authorized overflights for such flights.[29] On 8 October 2020, Israel and Jordan reached an agreement to allow flights to cross over both countries' airspace.[30]

States that recognize Israel

UN member states

More information #, State ...
#StateDate of de facto recognitionDate of de jure recognitionNotes
1 Albania—16 April 1949[31]Diplomatic relations established on 20 August 1991.[32]
2 Andorra—13 April 1994[33]
3 Angola—16 April 1992[34]Date diplomatic relations established
4 Antigua and Barbuda—22 June 1983[35]Date diplomatic relations established
5 Argentina—14 February 1949[36]
6 Armenia—4 April 1992[37]Date diplomatic relations established
7 Australia—29 January 1949[38]
8 Austria15 March 1949[39]8 May 1956Date diplomatic relations established. Prior to that, the two countries had maintained consular relations since 1950. Legations were upgraded to embassy status in 1959.[40]
9 Azerbaijan—7 April 1992[41]Date diplomatic relations established.
10 Bahamas[when?]24 September 1974[42]
11 Bahrain11 September 2020[43]15 September 2020[44]On 15 September 2020, an agreement was signed to normalize relations.[43]
12 Barbados—29 August 1967[45]Date diplomatic relations established
13 Belarus11 May 1949[46]26 May 1992[47]Date diplomatic relations established
14 Belgium—15 January 1950[48]
15 Belize—6 September 1984[49]Date diplomatic relations established. Relations suspended in 2023 during the Gaza war.[50]
16 Benin—5 December 1961[51]Date diplomatic relations established. Relations severed in October 1973, and resumed in July 1992.[52][53]
17 Bhutan[25]—12 December 2020[54]Date diplomatic relations established
18 Bolivia22 February 1949[55]24 February 1949[56]Relations severed in January 2009,[57] and restored in November 2019.[58] Relations severed in 2023 during the Gaza war,[59] but restored again in December 2025.[60]
19 Bosnia and Herzegovina—26 September 1997[61]Date diplomatic relations established
20 Botswana[when?]December 1972[62]After the war in 1973, Botswana was one of only five countries in Africa that did not break off relations with Israel.[d][63]
21 Brazil—7 February 1949[64]
22 Bulgaria—4 December 1948Relations severed on 10 June 1967, and restored on 3 May 1990.[65]
23 Burkina Faso—5 July 1961[51]Date diplomatic relations established. Relations severed in October 1973, and re-established in October 1993.[52][53][66]
24 Burundi[when?][when?]Relations severed in May 1973,[53] and restored in March 1995.
25 Cambodia—30 August 1960Date diplomatic relations established. Cambodia broke off relations in 1975; they were restored on 5 October 1993.[67][68]
26 Cameroon—15 September 1960[69]Date diplomatic relations established. Relations severed in October 1973 and restored in August 1986.[53][70]
27 Canada—11 May 1949[46][71]
28 Cape Verde—17 July 1994[72]Date diplomatic relations established
29 Central African Republic[when?][when?]Relations were severed in October 1973,[53] were resumed in January 1991.
30 Chad—10 January 1961Relations were established in 1961, but severed on 28 November 1972.[53][73] In 2005, reports emerged of a mutual intention to renew diplomatic relations.[74] Relations restored on 20 January 2019.[19]
31 Chile—11 May 1949[75]
32 China—24 January 1992The Republic of China granted de jure recognition to Israel on 1 March 1949.[55] The two states maintained diplomatic relations until Israel's recognition of the People's Republic of China on 8 January 1950. The PRC, however, did not formally reciprocate until the eventual establishment of diplomatic relations in 1992.[76]
33 Colombia—1 February 1949[55]On 1 May 2024, president Gustavo Petro announced Colombia would break diplomatic ties with Israel, describing Israel's siege of Gaza as a "genocide".[77]
34 Costa Rica—19 June 1948[78]
35 Croatia—4 September 1997[79]Date diplomatic relations established
36 Cyprus—21 January 1961Date diplomatic relations established. They had been agreed to on 17 August 1960, but final establishment was postponed due to pressure from Arab nations.[80]
37 Czech Republic—18 May 1948[81]Recognition extended under Czechoslovakia. Relations under Czechoslovakia were severed between June 1967 and February 1990. Diplomatic relations with the Czech Republic were established 1 January 1993.[82]
38 Democratic Republic of the Congo—26 June 1960Date diplomatic relations established. Ties severed on 4 October 1973, and restored on 13 May 1982.[53][83]
39 Denmark2 February 1949[55]12 July 1950[84]
40 Dominica—January 1978[82]Date diplomatic relations established
41 Dominican Republic—29 December 1948[85]
42 East Timor[86]—29 August 2002
43 Ecuador—2 February 1949[55]
44 Egypt19 November 1977[87]26 March 1979[88]Signatory to the Khartoum Resolution.[89] Later became the first Arab state to recognize Israel, with the Egypt–Israel peace treaty.
45 El Salvador—11 September 1948[90]
46 Equatorial Guinea[when?][when?]Relations severed in October 1973,[53] and resumed in January 1994.[91]
47 Eritrea—6 May 1993[68][92]Date diplomatic relations established
48 Estonia—9 January 1992[93]Date diplomatic relations established
49 Eswatini—September 1968[82]
50 Ethiopia—24 October 1961[94]Prior to de jure recognition, Ethiopia maintained consular relations with Israel since 1956. Relations were broken in October 1973,[53] and resumed in November 1989.
51 Federated States of Micronesia[95]—23 November 1988Date diplomatic relations established
52 Fiji—August 1970[82]Date diplomatic relations established
53 Finland[96]11 June 1948[97]18 March 1949
54 France—24 January 1949[98]
55 Gabon[67]—29 September 1993[99]Relations severed in October 1973,[53] and resumed in September 1993.
56 Gambia—[when?]Relations severed in October 1973,[53] and resumed in September 1992
57 Georgia—1 June 1992[100]Date diplomatic relations established
58 Germany10 September 1952 (West Germany before 3 October 1990)[101]12 May 1965[102]Date diplomatic relations established. Prior to this, Germany signed the Reparations agreement with Israel. East Germany never had diplomatic relations with Israel during its existence.
59 Ghana—[when?]Relations broken in October 1973,[53] and resumed in August 1994
60 Greece[94]15 March 194921 May 1990[103]Date diplomatic relations established
61 Grenada—January 1975[82]Date diplomatic relations established
62 Guatemala—19 May 1948[81]
63 Guinea—[when?]Broke diplomatic relations with Israel on 12 June 1967,[53] and restored relations on July 20, 2016.[18]
64 Guinea-Bissau—March 1994[82]Date diplomatic relations established
65 Guyana—[when?]Broke off relations in March 1974, restored in March 1992.
66 Haiti26 February 1949[55]January 1950[82]Date diplomatic relations established
67 Honduras[85][104]11 September 19488 November 1948[99]
68 Hungary[105]24 May 19481 June 1948[97]Relations broken in 1967, and restored on 19 September 1989.[106]
69 Iceland11 February 1949[55][when?]
70 India—17 September 1950[107]
71 Ireland[108]12 February 1949May 1963[108]
72 Italy[55]8 February 194919 January 1950
73 Ivory Coast15 February 196124 May 1961[51]Date diplomatic relations established. Prior to this date, it had maintained trade relations since 15 February 1961. Relations severed in November 1973, and resumed in February 1986.[52][53]
74 Jamaica[99]January 196229 August 1962[109]Date diplomatic relations established
75 Japan—15 May 1952[110]
76 Jordan—26 October 1994[111]Signatory to the Khartoum Resolution.[89] Recognized Israel in the Israel–Jordan peace treaty.
77 Kazakhstan—10 April 1992[112]Date diplomatic relations established
78 Kenya—December 1963[99][113]Severed relations in November 1973,[53] resumed in December 1988.
79 Kiribati—21 May 1984[114]Date diplomatic relations established
80 Kyrgyzstan—March 1992[99]
81 Laos—February 1957Date diplomatic relations established. Laos broke off relations in 1973, and restored them on 6 December 1993.[115]
82 Latvia—6 January 1992[116]Date diplomatic relations established
83 Lesotho—[when?]
84 Liberia11 February 1949[105][when?]Relations severed in November 1973, and resumed in August 1983.[52][53]
85 Liechtenstein—January 1992[99]
86 Lithuania—8 January 1992[117]Date diplomatic relations established
87 Luxembourg11 May 1949[46]16 January 1950[118]
88 Madagascar—[when?]Relations severed in October 1973,[53] and resumed in January 1994.
89 Malawi—July 1964[82]Date diplomatic relations established
90 MaltaJanuary 1965[99]December 1965[82]Date diplomatic relations established
91 Marshall Islands—16 September 1987[119]
92 Mauritius[67]—[when?]Diplomatic relations severed July 1976, restored September 1993.
93 Mexico11 May 1949[46]4 April 1952[120]
94 Moldova[121]—22 June 1992
95 Monaco—January 1964[82]
96 Mongolia[122]—2 October 1991
97 Montenegro[123]—12 July 2006
98 Morocco[25][89]1 September 1994[124]10 December 2020Closed Israeli office and suspended relations in October 2000.[125] On 10 December 2020, an agreement was announced to normalize relations.[126]
99 Mozambique[67][68]—23 July 1993
100 Myanmar[127]—13 July 1953Date full diplomatic relations established
101 Namibia[68][128]—11 February 1994
102 Nauru[82]—December 1994
103 Nepal[129]—1 June 1960Date diplomatic relations established. First South Asian nation to establish diplomatic ties with Israel.
104 Netherlands11 May 1949[46]16 January 1950[118]
105 New Zealand29 January 1949[55]28 July 1950[130]
106 Nicaragua—18 May 1948[85]Diplomatic relations suspended June 2010 and restored in March 2017.[131] Relations suspended again in October 2024.[132]
107 Nigeria[133]1960[when?]Relations broken in October 1973,[53] were resumed in May 1992.
108 North Macedonia—7 December 1995[82]Date diplomatic relations established
109 Norway[when?]4 February 1949Date Norway recognized Israel
110 Palau[67][68]—2 October 1994
111 Panama—19 June 1948[78]
112 Papua New Guinea—1978[134]
113 Paraguay6 September 1948[85]7 September 1948[135]
114 Peru—9 February 1949[55]
115 Philippines11 May 1949[46]13 May 1957[136]
116 Poland—18 May 1948[81]Relations were broken in 1967, restored in February 1990.[137]
117 Portugal[138]12 May 197712 May 1977[139]
118 Republic of the Congo—9 November 1960Date diplomatic relations established. Broke relations on 31 December 1972, resumed in August 1991.
119 Romania[140]11 June 194812 June 1948[97]
120 Russia—17 May 1948[81][141][142]Recognition extended as part of the Soviet Union. Relations broken in 1967, restored on 19 October 1991.[143]
121 Rwanda—[when?]Relations severed in October 1973,[53] and restored in October 1994.
122 Saint Kitts and Nevis—January 1984[82]Date diplomatic relations established
123 Saint Lucia—January 1979[82]Date diplomatic relations established
124 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines—January 1981[82]Date diplomatic relations established
125 Samoa—June 1977[82]Date diplomatic relations established
126 San Marino[144]—1 March 1995
127 São Tomé and Príncipe—November 1993[82]Date diplomatic relations established
128 Senegal1960[99]10 November 1960[145]Date diplomatic relations established. Relations broken in October 1973,[53] and resumed in August 1994.
129 Serbia—31 January 1992Date diplomatic relations established[146]
130 Seychelles—September 1992[82]Date diplomatic relations established
131 Sierra Leone—[when?]Relations broken in October 1973,[53] and resumed in May 1992.
132 Singapore[147]—11 May 1969Date diplomatic relations established
133 Slovakia—18 May 1948[81]Recognition extended under Czechoslovakia. Relations under Czechoslovakia were severed between June 1967 and February 1990. Diplomatic relations with Slovakia were established 1 January 1993.[148]
134 Slovenia[149]—28 April 1992
135 Solomon Islands—January 1989[82]
136 South Africa24 May 1948[81]14 May 1949[150][151]
137 South Korea—10 April 1962[152]Date diplomatic relations established
138 South Sudan[153]—28 July 2011Date given is the date full diplomatic relations were established.[154]
139 Spain[155]17 January 1986[when?]
140 Sri Lanka[156]16 September 1950[when?]
141 Suriname—February 1976[82]
142 Sweden[55]15 February 194913 June 1950[84]
143 Switzerland[157]28 January 194918 March 1949[158]
144 Tajikistan—April 1992[82]
145 Tanzania—[when?]Relations broken in October 1973,[53] and resumed in February 1995.
146 Thailand26 September 1950[159][when?]
147 Togo—[when?]Relations severed in September 1973,[53] and restored in June 1987.[52]
148 Tonga—June 1977[82]Date diplomatic relations established
149 Trinidad and Tobago[82]August 196231 August 1962[160]Date diplomatic relations established
150 Turkey28 March 1949[161]12 March 1950[162]Downgraded ties with Israel to second secretary level in September 2011,[163] and restored full diplomatic relations in June 2016.[164]
151 Turkmenistan[165]—6 October 1993Date diplomatic relations established
152 Tuvalu—July 1984[82]Date diplomatic relations established
153 Uganda—[when?]Broke relations on 30 March 1972,[53] and restored in July 1994.
154 Ukraine11 May 1949[46]26 December 1991[166]
155 United Arab Emirates13 August 2020[167]15 September 2020[44]On 15 September 2020, an agreement was signed to normalize relations.[167]
156 United Kingdom13 May 1949[168]28 April 1950[118]
157 United States14 May 1948[6]31 January 1949[169]First country to recognize Israel.
158 Uruguay—19 May 1948[81]First Latin American country to recognize Israel.[170]
159 Uzbekistan[171]—21 February 1992Date full diplomatic relations established
160 Vanuatu[67][68]—16 December 1993Date diplomatic relations established
161 Vietnam[172]—12 July 1993Date diplomatic relations established
162 Zambia—[when?]Relations broken in October 1973,[53] and resumed in December 1991.
163 Zimbabwe[67][68]—26 November 1993Date diplomatic relations established
Close

Non-UN member states

More information #, State ...
# StateDate of recognitionNotes
1  Cook Islands[173]2008
2 Holy See[174]15 June 1994
3 Kosovo4 September 2020Kosovo recognised Israel as part of the Kosovo and Serbia economic normalization agreements (2020).[175][176][177] Diplomatic relations established on February 1, 2021.[178][179]
4  Niue[180]2008
5 Palestine[181]1993Signatory to the Khartoum Resolution.[89] Recognized Israel as part of the Oslo I Accord.[citation needed]
6 Somaliland[182]26 December 2025Israel became the first country and UN member state to formally recognize Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state. Both states agreed to establish full diplomatic relations, including opening embassies in their respective capitals.[183]
7 TaiwanIsrael and Taiwan maintain close relations, though Israel does not recognize Taiwan as a country.[184]
Close

States that do not recognize Israel

Legend:

  •     - states that have never formally recognized Israel
  •     - states that have withdrawn recognition of Israel

UN Member States

More information #, State ...
#StateDate of de facto recognitionDate of de jure recognitionNotes
1 Afghanistan[185]——Does not accept Israeli passports. Holders of passports containing any Israeli visa or stamp will be refused entry.
2 Algeria[186][89]——Does not accept Israeli passports.[27]
3 Bangladesh[187][188]——Does not accept Israeli passports, and Bangladeshi passports are not valid for travel to Israel.[27]
4 Brunei[25]——Does not accept Israeli passports, and Brunei passports are not valid for travel to Israel[27]
5 Comoros[25]——
6 Cuba14 January 194918 April 1949[189]Cuba severed relations in September 1973,[190] and the most recent government does not recognize it.[191]
7 Djibouti[25]——
8 Indonesia[188]——Does not accept Israeli passport holders without an invitation from the Directorate General of Immigration. Holders of passport can only enter Indonesia through airports in Denpasar (DPS), Jakarta (CGK/HLP), and Surabaya (SUB).[27]
9 Iran[192]6 March 1950[192]—[192]Voted against the UN Partition Plan and voted against the admission of Israel's membership to the UN. Iranian government refrained from recognizing Israel de jure despite de facto recognition.[192] Relations severed on 18 February 1979.[193] Does not accept Israeli passports,[27] and the holders of Iranian passports are "not entitled to travel to the occupied Palestine"[194] Holders of passports containing any Israeli visa or stamp will be refused entry.
10 Iraq[195]——Does not accept Israeli passports, except for Kurdistan Region where visa is required for passengers without a signed and stamped letter issued by the Ministry of Interior of the Kurdistan Regional Government if arriving at Erbil (EBL) and Sulaymaniyah (ISU).[27] Iraqi passports are not valid for travel to Israel. Holders of passports containing any Israeli visa or stamp will be refused entry.[196]
11 Kuwait[89]——Does not accept Israeli passports. Holders of passports containing any Israeli visa or stamp will be refused entry. Maintains a state of hostility dating back to 1967.[27][197]
12 Lebanon[89]——Does not accept Israeli passports. Holders of passports containing any Israeli visa or stamp will be refused entry.[27][e]
13 Libya[89]——Does not accept Israeli passports. Holders of passports containing any Israeli visa or stamp will be refused entry.[27]
14 Malaysia[188]——Does not admit Israeli passport holders without written permission from the government. Malaysian passports not valid for travel to Israel without permission from the government.[199]
15 Maldives—29 October 1965[200]Diplomatic relations suspended in 1974.[201] Cooperation agreements in 2009 did not develop into full diplomatic relations[202][203][204] and were terminated in 2014.[205] Since 15 April 2025, Maldives does not accept Israeli passports for entry into the country.[206][207][208]
16 Mali[25]——Diplomatic relations severed 5 January 1973.[53]
17 Mauritania—28 October 1999[209] Diplomatic relations suspended 6 March 2009,[210] severed 21 March 2010.[211]
18 Niger[25]——Relations severed on 4 January 1973.[51][53]
19 North Korea[212]——North Korea and Israel held talks in 1993, but the talks were halted under pressure from the United States.[213] See Israel–North Korea relations for more details.
20 OmanJanuary 1996[125]—A degree of relations established in January 1996. Closed Israeli office and suspended relations in October 2000.[125] Accepts Israeli passports for transit only, does not accept for admission.[27]
21 Pakistan[214]——Does not accept Israeli passports, and Pakistani passports are not valid for travel to Israel.[27]
22 Qatar[25]April 1996[82]—In April 1996, Qatar and Israel agreed to exchange trade representation offices.[215] Trade offices closed in February 2009.[82]
Does not accept Israeli passports for admission in Qatar, except during the 2022 FIFA World Cup.[216][217]
Qatar has hosted Israeli delegations for negotiations between Israel and Hamas during the Gaza war to facilitate ceasefires in the war.[218]
23 Saudi Arabia[89][219]——Does not accept Israeli passports, however there are some exceptions. Israeli Muslims may get a temporary Jordanian passport to enter the country for Hajj or Umrah purposes only and since 2020, Israeli businesspeople can obtain a special visa in order to enter the country.[27]
24 Somalia[220]——
25 Sudan23 October 2020[221] — On 23 October 2020, an agreement was announced to normalize relations. However, this has not resulted in full recognition.[221]
26 Syria[89]——Does not accept Israeli passports. Holders of passports containing any Israeli visa or stamp will be refused entry.[27]
27 Tunisia[89]3 October 1994[68][222]—[223]Joint declaration of relations made in January 1996. Closed the Israeli representative office and suspended relations in October 2000.[125]
28 Venezuela—27 June 1948[85] Relations severed in January 2009.[224]
29 Yemen[89]——Does not accept Israeli passports. Holders of passports containing any Israeli visa or stamp will be refused entry.[27]
Close

See also

Notes

  1. [a]
    Non-Muslim states:

    Muslim-majority states:

    Incomplete recognition:
  2. [b]
    Countries that broke or suspended diplomatic relations with Israel in 2006 during the Lebanon War:
    • Egypt maintained diplomatic relations despite condemning the war.[13]
    • Jordan maintained diplomatic relations despite condemning the war.[13]
    • Venezuela — withdrew its ambassador in protest against Israeli military actions.[14]
  3. [c]
    Countries that broke or suspended diplomatic relations with Israel mainly in response to the 2007 blockade of the Gaza Strip and subsequent military operations:
    • Bolivia severed diplomatic relations with Israel in January 2009, condemning the blockade and military actions.[15]
    • Mauritania expelled the Israeli ambassador and suspended diplomatic relations in March 2009, protesting Israel's Gaza policies.[16]
    • Venezuela, which had already protested Israel over Lebanon in 2006, further condemned the Gaza blockade and downgraded relations around 2009.[17]
  4. [d]
    The others being Malawi, Eswatini, Lesotho, and South Africa.
  5. [e]
    For a few months in 1983 and 1984, Lebanon did recognize Israel in the May 17 Agreement. However, Lebanon revoked the agreement in March 1984.[198]

References

Related Articles

Wikiwand AI