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According to a report by The Jerusalem Post on Monday, May 18, 2026, the President of Croatia has refused to approve the appointment of Israel’s proposed ambassador to Zagreb, citing concerns over the policies of the current Israeli government, in a decision that marks an unprecedented moment in the country’s diplomatic history.
According to a statement released on Monday by the Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia, President Zoran Milanovic will not endorse the nomination of Nisan Amdor, who had been approved by the Israeli government in November 2025 but has not yet received formal accreditation from Zagreb.
The presidency said it had previously refrained from public commentary in line with established diplomatic practice. However, it explained that Israel had breached what it described as an “unwritten rule” by publicly naming its proposed ambassador before receiving presidential approval.
Following that development, the Croatian presidency confirmed that Amdor “has not received, and will not receive, the approval of President Zoran Milanovic due to the policies of the current Israeli government.”
The statement further emphasized that decisions regarding diplomatic appointments remain a sovereign prerogative of Croatia, exercised by the president. It added that “any public or political pressure, in this case from the Israeli side, will not change the president’s decision.”
The move is widely regarded as the first time in Croatia’s history that a sitting president has withheld approval for an ambassadorial appointment, highlighting a rare diplomatic standoff between Zagreb and Tel Aviv.
Israel’s current ambassador to Croatia, Gary Koren, is expected to complete his term at the end of May before returning to Israel, leaving the position temporarily unsettled.
In response, Israel’s Foreign Ministry said it was engaging with Croatian authorities to resolve the issue regarding the next ambassador to Zagreb, according to reports cited by The Jerusalem Post.
The diplomatic dispute unfolds against a backdrop of strained political rhetoric between both sides. President Milanovic has previously faced criticism over his comments on Israel and the ongoing war in Gaza. In October 2025, he declined to meet Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar during an official visit, stating that doing so would amount to legitimizing Israel’s military actions in Gaza, which he described in strongly critical terms.
In March 2026, Sa’ar condemned further remarks attributed to Milanovic, calling them “unacceptable” and accusing the Croatian leader of using “hate-filled language” after he reportedly made controversial comments comparing Israeli and Iranian presence in Croatia.
Despite the tensions, diplomatic and economic relations between Croatia and Israel have remained functional. Croatian Foreign Minister Gordan Grlić-Radman recently met with Sa’ar in Berlin, where both sides reportedly discussed continued cooperation. Sa’ar also extended an invitation for the Croatian foreign minister to visit Israel.
Croatia has also maintained its position on broader Middle East policy, including its decision not to recognize Palestinian statehood and its opposition to suspending the EU–Israel Association Agreement.
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