Montenegro’s Jewish community navigates uncertain territory as hostility toward Israel increases
The country has been a top destination for Israeli tourists, but a recent brawl has unsettled some.
A vintage fighter jet commemorates Operation Velvetta, a secret plan that brought 17 Spitfire aircraft to Israel in 1948. The monument in Nikšić, Montenegro's second-largest city, depicts the friendship between Montenegro and Israel, but this sentiment is now being tested amid increasing hostility toward both Israel and Jews in the country.
Rabbi Ari Edelkopf, leader of the Religious Jewish Community of Montenegro, noted that antisemitism has grown in the country since the Oct. 7 attacks. He shared that his office has been monitoring antisemitic portals in Montenegro, and security has become essential for his office. Several incidents involving Israeli visitors have unnerved the local Jewish community, even as the capital approaches a new Jewish cultural center's completion.
Hostilities took place in the Adriatic beach resort of Budva, where Israeli tourists were beaten by locals shouting anti-Israel slogans. The tourists received assistance from the Israeli government, but Montenegro's government has not offered an official response. Montenegro has long welcomed Israeli tourists, and Jews have lived in the country for centuries. However, the rabbi believes that local people are being influenced by strong anti-Israel news outlets, causing them to believe in Israel's genocide.
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