Israel–Maldives relations

The Maldives established diplomatic relations with Israel in 1965, when Israel was the third state to recognize Maldives, and the Israeli ambassador was the first to present his credentials to the President of the Maldives.{{Cite news |last=Ahren |first=Raphael |date=14 February 2012 |title=As regime changes in Maldives, Israel loses a rare Muslim ally |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/as-regime-changes-in-maldives-israel-loses-rare-muslim-ally/ |access-date=24 February 2024 |work=The Times of Israel |archive-date=22 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201222034223/https://www.timesofisrael.com/as-regime-changes-in-maldives-israel-loses-rare-muslim-ally/ |url-status=live }} The Maldives suspended them in 1974.

In 2009, under president Mohamed Nasheed, the Maldives signed cooperation agreements with Israel on tourism, health, education, and culture.[https://mfa.gov.il/mfa/pressroom/2009/pages/israel_maldives_normalize_relations_25-sep-2009.aspx "Israel and Maldives move to normalize relations"], Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 25 September 2020. {{Dead link|date=June 2024|fix-attempted=yes}} In 2010, the Israeli government sent a team of eye doctors to treat patients and train local medical personnel in the Maldives.{{Cite web |last=Kadesh |first=Avigayil |date=22 March 2011 |title=Seeing eye to eye in the Maldives |url=http://mfa.gov.il/MFA/ForeignPolicy/Aid/Pages/Eye_from_Zion_Maldives-March_2011.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160630165721/http://mfa.gov.il/MFA/ForeignPolicy/Aid/Pages/Eye_from_Zion_Maldives-March_2011.aspx |archive-date=30 June 2016 |website=Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Israel)}}

In May 2011, the Maldives’s then-foreign minister, Ahmed Naseem, became the first top official from the Maldives to visit Israel, which he did on a four-day trip.{{Cite web |date=17 May 2011 |title=Foreign Minister of Maldives visiting Israel |url=https://mfa.gov.il/mfa/pressroom/2011/pages/maldive_foreign_minister_visiting_israel_17_may_2011.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306023957/https://mfa.gov.il/mfa/pressroom/2011/pages/maldive_foreign_minister_visiting_israel_17_may_2011.aspx |archive-date=6 March 2016 |website=Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Israel)}} However, the renewed relationship did not develop into full diplomatic relations.{{Cite web |date=11 November 2015 |title=האיים המלדיביים - המלצה למטייל |trans-title=The Maldive Islands - Recommendation for travelers |url=https://mfa.gov.il/ConsularService/TravelAdvisory/Pages/Maldives_111115.aspx |access-date=2 June 2024 |website=Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Israel) |language=he |archive-date=4 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201104015113/https://mfa.gov.il/ConsularService/TravelAdvisory/Pages/Maldives_111115.aspx |url-status=live }}

In July 2018, under president Abdulla Yameen, the Maldives terminated the cooperation agreements with Israel and in 2014 announced a boycott of Israeli products, as Israel launched a military operation in Gaza.{{Cite news |date=21 July 2014 |title=Maldives to ban Israeli goods, revoke 3 pacts |url=http://www.haveeru.com.mv/news/55834 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304003727/http://www.haveeru.com.mv/news/55834 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |work=Haveeru Daily}} The then-Foreign Minister Dunya Maumoon also announced that the Maldives would fully support Palestinians at international forums such as the United Nations Human Rights Council and offer them humanitarian aid.

In 2020, after UAE and Bahrain recognized Israel and a local media outlet reported the government had discussed establishing ties with Israel, the then-Maldivian foreign minister, Abdulla Shahid, denied having initiated discussions regarding establishing ties with Israel.{{Cite news |last=Zalif |first=Zunana |date=30 September 2020 |title=Maldives denies work to establish ties with Israel |url=https://raajje.mv/87494 |access-date=24 February 2024 |work=Raajje TV |archive-date=8 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240608203020/https://raajje.mv/87494 |url-status=live }}

In 2021, Israeli travel company Caminos announced it would offer direct flights from the Maldives to Israel from 6 September to 4 October 2021. The Maldives are popular among Israeli tourists.{{Cite news |last=Yalsh |first=Shimon |date=2021-06-15 |title=Coming soon: Direct flights from Israel to the Maldives |url=https://www.israelhayom.com/2021/06/15/coming-soon-direct-flights-from-israel-to-the-maldives/ |access-date=2021-06-20 |work=Israel Hayom}} However, the rumors of offering direct flights were denied by the Maldivian transport ministry.{{Cite news |last=Abdulla |first=Lamya |date=17 June 2021 |title=No airline granted to operate direct flights between Maldives and Israel: Transport Ministry |url=https://edition.mv/maldivespalestine/22683 |access-date=2 June 2024 |work=The Edition |archive-date=8 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240608203018/https://edition.mv/maldivespalestine/22683 |url-status=live }}

In 2023, Maldivians held protests to stop Israeli tourism in the Maldives, in a show of solidarity with Palestinians and Maldivian MP Saud Hussain submitted a resolution to parliament to ban Israeli passport holders from coming to the country.{{Cite news |last=Zalif |first=Zunana |date=21 October 2023 |title=Maldives holds mass rally in solidarity with Palestinians |url=https://raajje.mv/143783 |access-date=24 February 2024 |work=Raajje TV |archive-date=8 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240608203020/https://raajje.mv/143783 |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last=Rehan |first=Mohamed |date=15 October 2023 |title=Resolution to ban Israeli arrivals to Maldives |url=https://edition.mv/news/29605 |access-date=24 February 2024 |work=The Edition |archive-date=26 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231226134741/https://edition.mv/news/29605 |url-status=live }} In the same year, the Israeli Foreign Affairs Ministry issued a travel warning for the Maldives due to the 'anti-Israel' atmosphere and Maldivians called for a boycott of companies.{{Cite news |date=19 December 2023 |title=Foreign Ministry issues travel warning for the Maldives |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/foreign-ministry-issues-travel-warning-for-the-maldives/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240224063505/https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/foreign-ministry-issues-travel-warning-for-the-maldives/ |archive-date=24 February 2024 |access-date=24 February 2024 |work=The Times of Israel}}{{Cite news |last=Zalif |first=Zunana |date=8 December 2023 |title=Maldivians take to the streets, demand to boycott companies profiting from genocide in Palestine |url=https://raajje.mv/146393 |access-date=24 February 2024 |work=Raajje TV |archive-date=8 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240608203042/https://raajje.mv/146393 |url-status=live }} The Maldives also condemned the Israeli attacks on Rafah and called on Israel to abide by the International Court of Justice's ruling.{{Cite news |last=Shahid |first=Malika |date=28 May 2024 |title=Maldives condemns Israeli attacks on Rafah, calls to abide ICJ ruling |url=https://edition.mv/maldivespalestine/33701 |access-date=2 June 2024 |work=The Edition}}

In 2024, Maldivian MP Meekail Ahmed Naseem submitted a bill to the parliament calling for a ban on entry for Israeli passport holders.{{Cite news |last=Mohamed |first=Mariyath |date=31 May 2024 |title=MDP submits bill to parliament calling to ban Israeli passports |url=https://edition.mv/maldivespalestine/33772 |access-date=2 June 2024 |work=The Edition |archive-date=8 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240608203021/https://edition.mv/maldivespalestine/33772 |url-status=live }} It was promptly accepted and was sent to the Security Services Committee (241 committee).{{Cite news |date=2 June 2024 |title=Maldives will ban Israelis from entering the country over the war in Gaza |url=https://apnews.com/article/maldives-israel-gaza-war-71d3b17d46dbcf9c06ba6c642763f36d |access-date=16 April 2025 |agency=Associated Press}}{{Cite news |last=Osmanagic |first=Ameera |date=2 June 2024 |title=Maldives to amend law to ban Israel passport |url=https://edition.mv/maldivespalestine/33805 |access-date=2 June 2024 |work=The Edition |archive-date=8 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240608203021/https://edition.mv/maldivespalestine/33805 |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |date=10 June 2024 |title=Parliament accepts Israel passport ban bill, sends it to 241 committee |url=https://en.sun.mv/90018 |access-date=16 April 2025 |work=Sun}} After months of being stalled in the 241 committee, on 14 April 2025 they approved the ban with some overhauls.{{Cite news |date=14 April 2025 |title=316 days later, committee decides to ban Israeli passports until attacks stop |url=https://en.sun.mv/95943 |access-date=16 April 2025 |work=Sun}} These changes were letting Israelis who have dual citizenship in and Israeli passport holders will be banned until Israel stops attacks that are launched on Palestinians.

The ban came into immediate effect after it was approved by parliament on 15 April 2025.{{Cite news |last=Mohamed |first=Mariyath |date=15 April 2025 |title=Parliament approves banning entry on Israeli passports |url=https://edition.mv/maldives/40532 |access-date=16 April 2025 |work=The Edition}}{{Cite news |date=15 April 2025 |title=Maldives bans entry of Israelis in ‘resolute solidarity’ with Palestinians |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/maldives-bans-entry-of-israelis-in-resolute-solidarity-with-palestinians/ |url-status= |access-date=15 April 2025 |work=The Times of Israel |agency=Agence France-Presse}}

• Foreign relations of Israel
• Foreign relations of the Maldives
• International recognition of Israel

{{reflist}}

• [https://swap.stanford.edu/20091018181458/http%3A//www.minivannews.com/news_detail.php?id%3D7408 Minivan News]

{{Foreign relations of Israel}}

{{Foreign relations of the Maldives}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Israel-Maldives relations}}

Maldives

Category:Bilateral relations of the Maldives