‘Unprecedented’: European leader rejects credentials of Israeli ambassador

Israel may soon be left without an official ambassador in Croatia amid an unprecedented dispute.

By World Israel News Staff

The president of Croatia, who has taken an outspoken stance against Israel in numerous public statements, is currently refusing to accept the credentials of the new Israeli ambassador to Zagreb, sparking fears of a deteriorating diplomatic crisis between the two countries.

Croatian President Zoran Milanović, a left-wing politician from a party with historical roots in communism who is now serving alongside a right-wing government, has refused to accept the credentials of Nissan Amdur, who was appointed to the role nearly seven months ago, in November 2025.

The situation is coming to a head because Israel’s current ambassador to Croatia, Gary Koren, is set to end his term at the end of the month. Once that happens, because Milanović has refused to accept his successor, Amdur, Israel officially will not have an ambassador in Croatia, according to a report in the Hebrew-language outlet Ynet.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry plans to change Amdur’s status to that of chargé d’affaires as a temporary solution, since the role does not require presidential approval.

However, the situation is historically unprecedented, with Croatia never before refusing to approve the appointment of an Israeli diplomat to the country.

A senior Israeli official told Ynet that relations between the countries are strong enough to survive the crisis created by Milanović.

“This is an internal dispute within Croatia between the president and the government, as part of which the Croatian president is refusing, among other things, to approve appointments and replacements of Croatian ambassadors around the world,” the source said.

The source added that Milanović “is a problematic political figure who in the not-so-distant past made clearly anti-Israel and antisemitic remarks.”

Milanović has accused Israel of carrying out “terrorism” in Gaza and across the region while also ordering an end to military cooperation between Croatia and the Jewish state.

CroatiaForeign MinistryIsrael-European relationsIsraeli diplomacy