Summary/Abstract: After the recognition of Israel in 1948, Yugoslavia established diplomatic relations with newly created state. In close cooperation between the two countries a number of issues were raised (assets of Yugoslav Jews who had went to Israel, trade, military and cultural cooperation, etc.). Israel strived for buying Yugoslav weapons and Tito’s mediating in the organization of a secret Israeli-Arab meeting, which the Yugoslav side was avoiding by delaying agreement. In an effort to strengthen its international position, in 1954, in the contacts with Yugoslav representatives, Israel requested the opportunity to join the Balkan Pact. Also, Israel needed the Yugoslav support in voting for the resolutions at the United Nations in order to strengthen its position in relation to the Arab countries, so it looked with distrust at the Yugoslav-Arab closer contacts. One of the challenges in the relations between the two countries was the Israeli-Arab war in 1956, which Yugoslavia condemned as an Israeli aggression. Wishing to strengthen and improve relations with Yugoslavia, Israel insisted on Tito’s visit. Late in the fifties and in the early sixties, the establishment of closer links and raising diplomatic relations at ambassadorial level was sought. Yugoslavia and Josip Broz Tito, looking at their position through the Non-Aligned Movement and relations with Arab countries, looked at Israel with diplomatic measuredness, from a distance, and it seemed that there were no progress. Differences with regard to mutual relations were at their peak during the Israeli-Arab war in 1967, whereupon diplomatic relations were severed.
