Baku, February 3, AZERTAC

The relationship between Israel and Azerbaijan is mutually beneficial, highlighted by Azerbaijan's pioneering move as the first Shia Muslim country to establish an embassy in Israel.

This diplomatic landmark was the product of the centuries-old affection between Azerbaijani and Jewish people, which has blossomed from a people-to-people relationship to energy, agriculture, technology, and military-technical spheres.

Azerbaijan’s open relationship with Israel is viewed as a political bridge for the countries in the Muslim world, while the multi beneficial deals could be seen as a good example of win-win collaboration between the two states. Recent developments with other Muslim countries, such as four Arab League states, - Bahrain, Sudan, UAE, Morocco and Kosovo, normalizing relations with Israel, helped to set aside preexisting hostilities toward the Jewish state.

The current round of violence in Israel coincides with increasing global political polarization and moving away from the potential normalization of relations with Arab League countries, such as Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Canny diplomatic games of certain countries in the Middle East has contributed to the violent events in Gaza and protests around the world, primarily in front of Israeli diplomatic buildings and Jewish communities, flaring antisemitism.

Today, a cease-fire agreement had been reached to stop fighting and end hostilities in Gaza and start peace negotiations and reconstruction of Gaza. Azerbaijan appreciates a cease-fire agreement in Gaza and supports the two-state solution to this conflict in line with UNSC resolutions, to make it a “win-win” situation for all the parties, preventing antisemitism.

Antisemitism has been a major part of Jewish history, prompting waves of refugees throughout Europe. Thousands of Jews experienced brutal antisemitism in the Middle Ages, escaping repressions and massacres in France, Spain, Portugal, and elsewhere in Europe to take refuge in the Ottoman Empire.

Unification of Germany in 1871 and dissolution of the multinational Ottoman Empire in 1922, bred a new manifestation of antisemitism, culminating in the horrors of the Nazi extermination camps during World War II.

Rabbi Lau moved the audience at the PACE’s Holocaust Memorial Ceremony

On 29 January 2025, eighty years after the liberation of the Auschwitz camp following massacre of Jews, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) marked International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

The Holocaust survivor, former Chief Rabbi Meir Lau in an emotional speech before hundreds of representatives from the 46 member states, said:

“…This commemoration event is a beacon of light in our vision of one of the darkest hours in European history. We must never forget that these unimaginable crimes were committed in Europe, by Europeans. We will never forget that the Council of Europe was born out of the determination to ensure that the horrors of World War II would never happen again. ”Rabbi Meir Lau, who lost both parents during the Holocaust, emphasized Azerbaijan’s tradition of religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence amid rising global anti-Semitism.

“Today, I would like to mention a country that is an old friend of Israel: the state of Azerbaijan, a Muslim majority state with close ties to the Jewish people and Israel. Azerbaijan stands shoulder to shoulder with Israel against evil today,” the rabbi said. https://x.com/NasimiAghayev/status/1884964062745841682

Azerbaijan is renowned as being one of the few places in the world where Jews could live without fear of persecution. Unlike their counterparts in other communities around the world and even in Israel today, Jews in Azerbaijan have never experienced hostility or persecution. They continue to live without fear of antisemitism or threats to their safety, as reflected in the total absence of security measures at their synagogues, day schools and other community institutions. Local Jewish community members insist such protection is unnecessary in Azerbaijan.

Qırmızı Qəsəbə (Red Town) in Azerbaijan’s Guba district, defined for its red-tiled roofs, is the world's one of the two all-Jewish settlement outside Israel. Jews in Azerbaijan, who openly practice Judaism without fear, are among the numerous ethnic groups who have benefitted from such coexistence. This settlement is home of Mountain Jews, the world’s last surviving shtetl, maintaining its own culture and traditions, as well as the unique Juhuri language. After liberating Karabakh from 30-year-old Armenian occupation, a peace deal has been agreed to establish lasting peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Today, Israel is supporting the demining activities within the liberated region, where the Armenians planted an estimated one million mines before the 2020 war.

During more than three-decade-old relationship Israel government officials made several trips to Azerbaijan. Among them Israeli statesman Avigdor Lieberman, who highly appreciates bilateral relations and visited Azerbaijan five times, in one of his visits to Baku, said: “Azerbaijan is more important for Israel than France.”

It is not only the future prospects of the two nations that brings about a strong bond, but the memories of the past make it ever so stronger. Speaking at the UN General Assembly on the International Day of Remembrance of the Holocaust, Israeli at the UN General Assembly, former President of Israel Reuven Rivlin also spoke about the Khojaly tragedy as one of the acts of genocide of the recent past.

One of the more recent meetings between the leaders of Azerbaijan and Israel took place on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos on 21st January 2025. President Ilham Aliyev and President Isaac Herzog hailed bilateral progress between Azerbaijan and Israel.

President Herzog fondly recalled his official visit to Azerbaijan, highlighting its significance in strengthening ties between the two nations.

In May 2023, President Isaac Herzog made a historic state visit to Azerbaijan. He participated in a ceremony along with the local Jewish community celebrating Israel’s 75th anniversary in Baku.

It was a great honor for me to participate in this event. I used this opportunity to present “Mysterious Tales of Tabriz” – a book that traces the basic stages of the evolution of Medieval Azerbaijani miniature painting, to President Herzog as a token. The book is one of the cultural projects that I was involved and it has been presented to Holy Father Pope Francis, President of Italy Sergio Mattarella, former President of Greece Karolos Papoulias and other dignitaries, the stories of which can serve as a model for building functional and inclusive societies.

The other book that I presented to President Herzog, was “Regional Cuisine of the Irevan Khanate,” which gives a clear idea of the cuisine and table culture created by Azerbaijanis, the native residents of the historical territory known as the Irevan Khanate.

President Herzog was pleased to receive these presents, also appreciated the “unique Jewish heritage” in Azerbaijan, and “a joint vision of peace between Jews and Muslims, love and affection between our nations.”

Overall, Azerbaijan successfully promotes multicultural values, and its rich cultural heritage is viewed as a model for ethnic and religious tolerance. A good number of the cultural heritage of Azerbaijan was included to UNESCO's World Heritage list. For sure, in the future Azerbaijan’s all-Jewish town Qırmızı Qəsəbə with its unique architectural style, history and culture will become another important UNESCO site.

Guivami Rahimli, PhD

Professor at Baku State University, lecturing energy security,

multilateral and regional diplomacy at the faculty of international relations and economics