For the first time in history, a European country rejects the new Israeli ambassador
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - Croatian President Zoran Milanović made history by refusing to approve the appointment of a new Israeli ambassador to Zagreb on Monday, 18 May 2026. The radical move was taken as a strong protest against Tel Aviv authorities’ policies amid their military aggression in Gaza.
Milanović, known for his vocal criticism of Israel’s war in Gaza, said he had deliberately refrained from commenting publicly in order to maintain diplomatic etiquette. However, he argued that Israel has now breached an unwritten rule by announcing the ambassador-designate’s name before receiving official approval from Croatia.
‘The proposed Israeli ambassador has not received, and will not receive, the approval of the President of the Republic Zoran Milanović,’ the Croatian presidential office said in response to the nomination.
Responding to the tension, Israel’s Foreign Ministry said it is coordinating with the Croatian government to resolve the status of their representative in Zagreb. According to the initial plan, the diplomat named Nissan Amdur was slated to replace Ambassador Gary Koren, whose term ends at the end of May.
As a result of the rejection, Israeli media reported that Amdur is likely to still be sent to Croatia but only as chargé d’affaires. Such a diplomatic status is seen as a backdoor route for Tel Aviv because it does not require the president’s approval.
Regarding the rejection, a source familiar with the issue accused Milanović of being a ‘problematic political figure who in the recent past had clearly made anti-Israel and anti-Semitic statements.’
The friction also marks the peak of deteriorating relations between the two countries after Milanović banned the Croatian armed forces from cooperating with the Israeli military in February for allegedly violating international humanitarian law. Furthermore, in March, Milanović also condemned the US-Israel confrontation with Iran, arguing that the ambition to topple the Tehran regime would only trigger economic destruction.
The incident also triggered domestic political tensions in Croatia, as the president, who hails from the left-wing, holds views that diverge from the conservative government cabinet that leans toward supporting Israel. Although the president has limited executive power under the constitution, appointing foreign diplomats remains under his remit, which he has held since 2020.
Regarding his absolute authority, Milanović stated in a formal statement that ‘the granting or withholding of consent for a proposed ambassador is the sovereign right of the president.’