Strategic Assessment

The Czech Republic and Israel are considered strong allies. The Czech Republic has supported Israeli positions at some critical moments, even if it meant being in a minority. The roots of the Czech Republic’s “special relationship” with Israel lie in the convergence of historical legacy, values, and idealism, as well as realism. Some Czech diplomats, however, argue that their positions are not motivated by a pro-Israeli stance, but rather by the determination to balance the anti-Israeli atmosphere that currently prevails in international institutions. For Israel, a strong relationship with the Czech Republic is motivated less by sentiment, and instead is instrumental and pragmatic. In the future, a new generation of Czech diplomats will probably lack the idealist sentiments of their predecessors who experienced the Communist era. Nonetheless, pragmatic relations based on economic cooperation and shared know-how are in the interest of both the Czech Republic and Israel. Together with a positive Czech approach to Israel, the relationship between the two countries should remain strong in the foreseeable future.