Republika Srpska opens Israeli commerce office in Banja Luka amid Gaza war tensions

The Israeli Chamber of Commerce opened an office last week in Banja Luka, the administrative centre of Republika Srpska. Officials said the move will ‘‘further strengthen’’ ties; Israel’s ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Galit Peleg, said the office aims to connect businesses and promote ‘‘investment cooperation’’ but gave no details.

The opening comes amid growing international criticism of Israel over the Gaza war, including from the Sarajevo-based Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In Republika Srpska, by contrast, Israel has enjoyed strong support since the Gaza war began in October 2023, and former president and effective leader Milorad Dodik has frequently voiced pro-Israeli views.

At Thursday’s ceremony Dodik highlighted political and historical ties between Serbs and Jews and referenced their similar ‘‘suffering.’’ He said Republika Srpska will create a support programme for new Israeli technologies but did not provide specifics. Peleg noted that ‘‘at a time of protests and threats in Sarajevo’’ the Office of President Dodik offered a ‘‘beautiful building’’ in Banja Luka for the office.

The office’s president is Amir Gross Kabiri, an Israeli businessman and investor who became prominent in Bosnia after his company, a subsidiary of the M.T. Abraham Group, signed a 2020 lease for facilities of the collapsed Mostar aluminium firm Aluminij.

Ana Trisic Babic, acting director of Republika Srpska’s Office for International Cooperation, said the entity and Israel ‘‘have long nurtured friendly relations’’ and linked that to historical experiences and challenges. She added that Republika Srpska views Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s support for the opening as confirmation of the relationship.

Zagreb-based analyst Davor Gjenero said the office opening could help Republika Srpska address significant financial problems, including rising debt, and that any economic activity with Israel could be part of that strategy. He also highlighted connections between Dodik’s policies and those of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, calling the trend potentially ‘‘dangerous’’ amid rising tensions in Bosnia.

Gjenero warned cooperation between Republika Srpska and Israel, together with growing Serbia–Israel cooperation—particularly in the military sector—could further increase tensions in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He said ‘‘any activity’’ by Republika Srpska ‘‘without coordination with Sarajevo can be a serious problem’’ for the country’s EU dialogue and that strengthening Dodik is ‘‘dangerous for relations between Sarajevo and Banja Luka and internal relations in Bosnia and Herzegovina."