After the home crowd booed Israel’s national anthem, Hatikvah, the Israeli team scored in the second half—prompting the goal scorer to kiss the Star of David on his jersey and silence the hostile crowd, at which point Albanian players began shoving him.

For anyone who doesn’t follow soccer: this was a friendly. No tournament, no qualifying spot, no points on the line. Neither team's qualified for the upcoming World Cup.

Friendlies exist so national teams can train against real opponents in the off weeks, and historically to… pic.twitter.com/Z91iYGpKic

— Eli Kowaz – איליי קואז (@elikowaz) June 5, 2026

Albania vs. Israel: Boos drowned out Israel's anthem during football match.

Punches, shoving, shoes and garbage rain down from the stands to Israeli team.

Partial boycott kept the stadium half-empty.pic.twitter.com/OUatyG5xEC

— Clash Report (@clashreport) June 5, 2026

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Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama delivered a speech at the Knesset, admitting his nervousness at speaking in front of Prime Minister Netanyahu, whom he considers one of the best speakers in the world.

The post WATCH: Albanian PM praises Netanyahu as one of the world’s top 5 orators during Knesset speech appeared first on World Israel News.

Sa’ar also condemned the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion as “outrageous” after it ordered Israel to allow UN, particularly UNRWA, relief operations in Gaza.

By JNS

Hamas is “slowly trickling” the return of the 13 remaining dead hostages to delay the second phase of the ceasefire, which requires its disarmament, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said during a joint press conference in Jerusalem with his Albanian counterpart, Elisa Spiropali, on Thursday.

“Hamas is barbarically abusing the families who have waited two long years and simply want to lay their sons to rest. We demand the immediate return of all the bodies that Hamas is holding,” Israel’s top diplomat said.

Sa’ar expressed gratitude for the visits of U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance and State Secretary Marco Rubio to Jerusalem, a sign of Israel’s “tight friendship with the U.S. and with the Trump administration.”

“Israel is committed to working toward the success of President Trump’s plan. There are difficulties. But we are doing everything we can to work toward its success,” the minister stressed.

“Hamas and Islamic Jihad must lay down their arms. Gaza must be demilitarized. It must no longer be allowed to pose a threat to Israel and its citizens. This is at the heart of the Trump plan. We will not compromise on it,” Sa’ar continued.

He slammed the “outrageous” advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, issued earlier in the day, that the Jewish state must facilitate relief efforts by United Nations entities to the Gaza Strip, in particular those of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).

“This is not a ‘Court of Justice,’” Sa’ar said.

“It’s a kangaroo court—a corrupt, political circus. … We will not agree to cooperate with UNRWA—an organization whose employees participated in the October 7 massacre. It’s horrific and shameful that a U.N. agency is infiltrated with terrorists. UNRWA still employs over 1,400 Hamas terrorists! There is no power on earth that can force this upon Israel.”

Turning to Albania, the foreign minister recalled the “special place” the Balkan state has in Jewish history.

“During the Holocaust, the people of Albania had the moral bravery to save and protect Jews. They were exceptional in Europe at that time. It was the only country in Europe where the number of Jews was greater after the war than before it. We will never forget this,” Sa’ar said.

He praised Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama’s “true courage” in standing up to Iran and being a “true friend” of Israel.

Israeli tourism to the country in the year through August has risen by more than 1,000% over the whole of 2024, Sa’ar said.

“We expect there to be more than 77,000 Israeli tourists in Albania this year. There are now direct flights and a growing interest of Israelis in visiting Albania. The economic potential in our relations is huge. Albania is a beautiful country and a safe destination for Israelis and Jews,” he said.

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Anamali, a father of two, has been posthumously awarded the title “Martyr of the Nation” by the Albanian government, one of the country’s highest honors for acts of heroism.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

According to reports, Anamali had taken a group of visitors, including seven Israeli nationals, on a boat tour earlier this week. During the trip, two of the tourists entered the lake despite warnings about strong currents. It was immediately apparent that they were in danger of drowning.

Anamali and others tried to assist the swimmers from the boat. The tour guide and fellow travelers threw their lifejackets, including Anamali’s own, but these attempts were unsuccessful.

Witnesses say Anamali entered the water to help bring the tourists back to the vessel. As soon as he succeeded in getting both individuals to safety, the tour guide disappeared beneath the surface of the water.

Authorities believe the captain may have suffered cardiac arrest brought on by physical exhaustion and stress from the rescue. His body was later transferred to the regional hospital in Shkodra for further examination.

Anamali, a father of two, has been posthumously awarded the title “Martyr of the Nation” by the Albanian government, one of the country’s highest honors for acts of heroism. A formal memorial ceremony is expected to take place in the coming days.

“He gave everything to save lives,” said a government representative, as reported by the Albanian Times.

Earlier this week, an Israeli father and son died while hiking in Austria’s Tyrol region.

Eyal Keren, 58, and his son Omer Keren, 30 slipped and fell together on the Stubai High Trail. Another son of Eyal’s accompanied them but was unharmed.

The bodies of the father and son from Koranit in northern Israel were recovered shortly after the incident.

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“This is a beautiful thing for tourists and locals alike, and finally gives the dignity due to this important Jewish site,” says Dave Gordon, who advocated for repairs to signage at the ruins of the 1,700-year-old synagogue.

By World Israel News Staff

When Canadian-Jewish writer Dave Gordon visited the ruins of an ancient synagogue in Saranda, Albania, in September 2022, he was shocked by what he discovered.

The Saranda synagogue site, which dates back over 1,700 years, is both an archaeological treasure and an important piece of Jewish history.

But the signage at the site was “terribly faded” and had clearly been “neglected over the years,” Gordon told World Israel News (WIN).

Faded signage before the restoration at the Saranda synagogue ruins (Courtesy: Dave Gordon)

In order to understand the significance of the site and its features, “one would have either had to hire a tour guide or known what they were seeing in advance,” Gordon explained.

“Otherwise, there would be no way to know what this site was about, never mind anything about the beautiful mosaic on the floor, the mikvaot [ritual baths], any of the history or background information,” he said.

“So I was deeply disappointed, heartbroken, and frustrated that the sign was allowed to fall into such disrepair.”

Gordon sprang into action, emailing a local official in December at the Saranda municipality with a photo of the faded sign and explaining that the neglect was both disrespectful to the site and a lost opportunity for tourism.

The official replied that the responsibility for the site lay with the Ministry of Culture, not the municipality, and that his complaint would be forwarded to the relevant authorities.

About two weeks later, Gordon sent a follow-up email to the body responsible for signage at the site. To Gordon’s surprise, within the same month, he received pictures of new signage that had been installed.

Updated signage at the Saranda synagogue ruins (Courtesy: Dave Gordon)

“It was heartwarming to see the care with which they responded after my follow up email, and I was deeply grateful for the extent Saranda officials ensured that not one – but two – signs were erected at the site,” Gordon told WIN.

He was particularly impressed that the signs were replaced “within 30 working days, which included the Christmas holidays.”

Gordon said he believes that Albania’s support for Israel and the Jewish people is among the reasons why they prioritized restoring the signage, noting that Albanians had rescued Jews during the Holocaust.

“I am quite proud that I put my voice forward to enact change, and did my part to preserve Jewish history in my own little way,” Gordon said.

“This is a beautiful thing for tourists and locals alike, and finally gives the dignity due to this important Jewish site.”

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In Kosovo and Albania, community centers, synagogues and other facilities for the small Jewish populations are being developed. with the enthusiastic support of the local mayors.

By Dave Gordon, Special to World Israel News

One of the smallest countries in Europe, with one of the smallest Jewish populations, just took the first step towards renovating a building that will become the Jewish Cultural Center of Prizren, in the Balkan state of Kosovo.

The official ribbon cutting took place last week.

Votim Demiri, President of the Jewish Community in Prizren, told World Israel News that in this city of about 180,000 people, there are approximately 50 who self-identify as Jews. But that number swells to six or seven times that, he said, with visiting family for high holidays.

“I have great hope for this center, to have a synagogue, a library, and so much more for our community, at long last,” he said.

Tamar Ziv, Ambassador of the State of Israel to the Republic of Kosovo, attended the unveiling of the renovation. Kosovo formalized ties with Israel in February 2021, and months earlier, it was the first Muslim-majority state to open an embassy in Jerusalem.

“We’re almost two years into our (countries’) relationship,” said Ziv, at the dedication. “We’re working to develop our relationship in many different ways.”

In attendance was also Jörn Rohde, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany in Kosovo; Alyson Grunder, Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Kosovo; EU officials in Kosovo; and other officials.

Mayor of Prizren, Shaqir Totaj told World Israel News that “it is a great honor… to support the building of the Jewish Cultural Center in Prizren.” He also said that it “will complete the cultural mosaic of the city,” and noted that Jews have lived in the area since the Middle Ages.

“Visitors, tourists and citizens of Prizren will have the opportunity to know more about the outstanding culture of Jews, their history and their heritage in our city. Prizren is known since antiquity as a unique place in Balkans, the city where cultures and civilization came together for centuries.”

The center will be financed by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport of the Republic of Kosovo, in cooperation with the Regional Cultural Heritage Center in Prizren.

Canadian Journalist Dave Gordon (l) with Kosovo’s Jewish community leader Dr. Hysen Hyseni. (Courtesy Dave Gordon)

Flori Zevi, a Jewish community member from the country’s capital, Pristina, noted that his city – about an hour and a half away – is also expected to see its own Jewish center that could house a synagogue, library, museum and possibly a kosher shop.

Up until about two generations ago, the city had a cheder (school for Jewish children), which is now a boxing club, and a one-hundred-year-old synagogue that today serves as an art museum. There are two Jewish cemeteries in the city, the oldest headstone dating to 1890.

Today, the Bet Israel – the community’s representative arm – with almost a hundred members, is led by Dr. Hysen Hyseni.

Kosovo, which declared its independence in 2008, is not the only Balkan country about to erect a new Jewish facility.

Next door, in Muslim-majority Albania, plans are well underway to build the Albanian Jewish Museum, the largest of its kind in the region, in the port city of Vlora. The official groundbreaking is expected next month, and the project is due for completion by 2025.

The museum will be situated in the city center, right next to Rruga Ebraia – The Jewish Street – where so much of the Jewish population once lived, before making Aliyah in the ’90s.

Vlora Mayor Dritan Leli told World Israel News that he was part of the spearheading committee to get the project off the ground.

“Near the historical museum of the city is the Jewish Street, where I have so many memories as a child,” he added.

He also noted that some 500 years ago, half the population of his city was Jewish.

“I’m excited…. The Jewish Museum of Albanians in Vlora will be dedicated to the coexistence of Jews and Albanians,” Leli said.

Model of acceptance for Jews

Albania has been a model of interfaith acceptance for Jews throughout history. Continuous Jewish presence in the area dates back to at least the third century, as evidenced by the 1,700-year-old synagogue ruins in the port city of Saranda. During the Inquisition, Jews sought refuge in Vlora, which today is the third-most populous city in Albania.

During the Holocaust, Albania resisted the Nazis, saving all its 300 Jews, as well as 3,000 other refugees. Today, the country is home to about 50 Jews.

Jewish Street today is protected by the state and includes a wall plaque dedicated to the Righteous Gentiles of Albania who saved Jews.

Dave Gordon receives commendation from Vlora Mayor Dritan Leli for his work in building bridges between Albania and the Jewish people. (Dave Gordon)

The museum is a cooperation between Albanian American Development Foundation (AADF), Ministry of Culture of Albania, and the Albanian Jewish community, according to Enxhi Lekli, Public Relations Manager of AADF. The largest non-profit in Albania, the AADF is a foreign assistance initiative of the U.S. government to increase private-sector initiatives in post-communist Albania. The organization has committed some $330,000 to the project.

Lekli said that exhibits will be curated by Barbara Kirshenblatt-Gimblett, a distinguished scholar of Jewish culture, who is curating the exhibition at the POLIN museum in Warsaw. Curation will also be contributed by Alketa Kurrizo of the Albanian-American Development Foundation. Exhibits will be solicited from the Albania diaspora around the world.

In August, Israeli firm Kimmel Eshkolot was tapped as lead architects for the museum. Their plan is to combine Albanian stone and Jerusalem stone as the building’s foundations, while preserving most of the existing structure.

Etan Kimmel, lead architect and firm principal, said in a statement: “The museum will tell the story of the Albanians’ saving the Jews during World War Two, whilst creating a physical experience elevated by our meticulous approach to emotion-evoking architecture and design.”

Assaf Kimmel, one of the architects, told World Israel News: “The most exciting part is being part of the foundation of a new cultural institution that aims to be a lively hub of events and exhibitions, and will be an engine in the development of the city of Vlora, which is already under rapid development.”

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During his three-day visit, Prime Minister Edi Rama is scheduled to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid, President Isaac Herzog and the head of Israel’s National Cyber Directorate.

By JNS

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama touched down in Israel on Sunday for a three-day visit at the invitation of his Israeli counterpart Yair Lapid, just weeks after Tirana cut off diplomatic ties with Iran over cyberattacks Tehran launched in July.

Rama was slated to meet with Lapid on Sunday afternoon, and later in his trip with, among others, President Isaac Herzog and Gaby Portnoy, the head of Israel’s National Cyber Directorate, according to Israeli media reports.

In September, Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Idan Roll met with Albanian Foreign Minister Olta Xhacka, and offered “to share our knowledge and experience in cyber defense.” He also “expressed Israel’s appreciation” for Tirana’s decision to expel Iranian diplomats.

“We will continue to tighten cooperation between Israel and Albania,” said Roll.

I spoke with Albanian FM @Xhacka_Olta at #ShapingFFP. I expressed Israel’s appreciation for Albania’s decision to sever its diplomatic ties with Iran, and offered to share our knowledge and experience in cyber defense. We will continue to tighten cooperation between and . pic.twitter.com/fPOnVhpDra

— Idan Roll – עידן רול (@idanroll) September 12, 2022

Following the cyberattacks, the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) imposed sanctions against Tehran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security and Minister of Intelligence Esmail Khatib.

The attacks disrupted state computer systems in Albania, forcing Tirana to suspend online services, and leaked supposed government documents and residents’ personal information.

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Albania’s expulsion of Iranian diplomats is first known case of a country severing ties with another over a cyberattack.

By Associated Press

Albania’s Interior Ministry said Saturday that one of its border systems was hit by a cyberattack that came from the same Iranian source as an earlier attack that led the country to break diplomatic relations with Iran.

It said in a statement that the previous evening an Albanian police transmitting system was found to be “under a cyberattack similar to the one that (government portal) e-Albania suffered in July.”

“Preliminary results show the attack was committed by the same hand,” the statement said, adding that authorities temporarily closed down all the systems, including the Total Information Management System (TIMS), which records entries and exits at the border crossing. Local media reported long queues in at least two border crossings in the south.

Albania, a NATO member, cut diplomatic ties with Iran and expelled its embassy staff this week. It was the first known case of a country cutting diplomatic relations over a cyberattack.

“Another cyberattack from the same aggressors already exposed and denounced by Albania’s allies and friendly countries, was seen last evening on the TIMS system,” Prime Minister Edi Rama tweeted on Saturday, adding that officials are coordinating defensive work with allies.

The Albanian government has accused Iran of carrying out the July 15 attack, which temporarily shut down numerous Albanian government digital services and websites.

Microsoft, the FBI and other cyber experts helped Albania following the July attack. Microsoft said in a blog post Thursday that it was moderately confident the hackers belong to a group that has been publicly linked to Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security.

The U.S. government on Friday imposed sanctions on Iran’s intelligence agency and its leadership in response to the attack on Albania. NATO and the European Union also denounced the attack and supported Albania’s move.

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Online conference host Albanian president: Jew hatred is “a threat to our civilization.”

By Batya Jerenberg, World Israel News

The Balkan region held its first-ever conference Wednesday night on anti-Semitism in an event held virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Balkan Forum on Combating Anti-Semitism was a joint effort of the Albanian parliament, the Jewish Agency, and the U.S.-based Combat Anti-Semitism Movement. Just last week, Tirana approved the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of anti-Semitism – the first Muslim-majority country in the world to do so.

Top officials from Albania, Montenegro, Kosovo, and North Macedonia who addressed the conference agreed to work together to eliminate Jew hatred from their region as a necessary step in creating societies that respect people’s differences.

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama called Jew hatred “a threat to our civilization.”

“We need to continue to fight every form of anti-Semitism, not only as a threat to Jews and Israel, but as a threat to our own civilization and values, on which our future is being built,” he said.

He took special aim at its growing online presence.

“Let us not forget that the very first pogroms originated from the ‘fake news’ and slanders of the day against the actions of Jews. This is where it all originated. The new form of spreading this in the digital world should worry us. There is a lot of hope in digital society for progress, but this must not turn into a nightmare spiraling out of control.”

Other major political figures such as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and EU President David Sassouli also addressed the conference, as did Knesset Speaker MK Yariv Levin.

Pompeo called on others to join Albania in accepting the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism because, he said, “We share the responsibility of those before us to crush [anti-Semitism]. We can do it. First we must define this threat and understand it clearly.”

So far, fewer than 20 countries in the world have formally adopted the non-legally binding IHRA definition that was formulated in May 2016.

Speaking for Israel, Levin called out the latest models of anti-Semites.

“Anti-Semitism has never disappeared,” he said. “Today there are also ‘enlightened’ anti-Semites who hide behind delegitimization and boycotts of the State of Israel, behind movements of ‘social justice’ and ‘political correctness.’ It happens not only in the darkest corners of the internet, but in public.”

He also praised Albania for its long-standing, principled stand against Jew hatred.

“It should be emphasized that Albania is the leader among the Balkan countries in the fight against anti-Semitism today. During the Holocaust, the Albanians made an extraordinary effort to save Jews, so that Albania is the only country on the continent where the number of Jews after World War II was higher than before it. No less than 73 Righteous Among the Nations come from this small country, which has less than three million inhabitants today.”

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After Albania expelled two Iranian diplomats accused of criminal activities threatening the nation’s security, Tehran quickly pointed the finger at its historical foes.

By Associated Press

Iran is blaming the United States and Israel for Albania’s expulsion of two Iranian diplomats accused of engaging in criminal activities that threatened the small European country’s security.

The official IRNA news agency quoted Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi as saying “Albania has become an unintentional victim of the United States, Israel and some terrorists groups.”

He says the U.S. and Israel are working to destroy relations between Iran and European countries, and that Albania should not allow others to dictate its relations with Tehran.

U.S. President Donald Trump thanked Albania for expelling the Iranian ambassador and another diplomat for allegedly engaging in illegal activities that threaten Albania’s security.

Trump’s letter to Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, dated Dec. 14, thanked him “for your steadfast efforts to stand up to Iran and to counter its destabilizing activities and efforts to silence dissidents around the globe.”

The U.S. Embassy in Tirana published the letter on its Facebook page on Thursday.

Albania’s Foreign Ministry on Wednesday said the two diplomats were expelled for “violating their diplomatic status” following talks with other countries, including Israel.

Trump’s letter said the expulsion “exemplifies our joint efforts to show the Iranian government that its terrorist activities in Europe and around the world will have severe consequences.”

Shahin Gobadi of Iran’s National Council of Resistance based in Paris, France, also hailed Albania’s expulsion of the two diplomats as “a very necessary and courageous act.”

Albania is home to 2,500 members of the Iranian opposition group in exile Mujahedin-e Khalk, who moved from Iraq.
Gobadi said “The clerical regime’s embassies in Europe are centers of terrorist acts against the dissidents.”

He said two plots of the Iranian regime were foiled, one in Albania — an attempt to bomb the Nowruz (Iranian New Year) celebration in March — and the other in a gathering of Iranians in Paris in June, and “the regime*s embassies and diplomats played a major role in both of these foiled terror plots.”

Private Top Channel television reported that the Iranians were suspected of illegal activities related to a World Cup qualifying match between Albania and Israel two years ago.

Albanian media also hinted that cancellation of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Albania in November could have been related to a possible plot against him.

Earlier this year, a court in neighboring Kosovo sentenced nine Albanians for planning a foiled attack against the Israeli soccer team during the match in Albania.

U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton also praised Albania in a tweet for expelling “the Iranian ambassador, signaling to Iran’s leaders that their support for terrorism will not be tolerated.”

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ISIS remains a viable threat to world security and, while has taken measures to protect itself at home, the Jewish state must still be on alert when its citizens travel abroad.

The Albanian soccer federation says the venue for the country’s World Cup qualifying match against Israel has been changed for “security reasons,” after Albanian authorities arrested four individuals who allegedly planned an Islamic State (ISIS) linked attack on the event.

Saturday’s match had been scheduled to be held at the Loro Borici Stadium in Shkoder, and has been changed to the Elbasan Arena.

The prosecutor’s office declined to comment on an ongoing investigation.

The four men arrested, some Albanian, some Macedonian and some from Kosovo, are all Muslims. The Albanian authorities reportedly acted on a tip from the Mossad, Israel’s famed espionage agency.

The terror cell is reportedly linked to ISIS.

Despite the arrests, Israel’s Counter-Terror Unit is still recommending that Israelis stay away from Saturday’s Israel’s national soccer team match.

The travel warning to Albania was set at Level 2 – representing a high concrete threat. Israeli authorities say that despite the arrests, there is still a real threat of terror attacks in the region.

In related news, the Albanian soccer federation has announced a ban on any anti-Israel activity at the game, including the display of anti-Israel signs. The federation warned that anyone who acts in such an offensive manner will be arrested and removed from the stadium.

By: World Israel News Staff
AP contributed to this report.

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