Israel–Malta Relations

Israel and Malta currently maintain full diplomatic relations.[1] Israel is represented in Malta by its ambassador in Rome, whose office is listed at Via Michele Mercati 14; the arrangement is non-resident, meaning no resident ambassador is stationed in Valletta.[1][5] The Jewish Virtual Library records that an Israeli embassy with a resident chargé d'affaires was established in 1966, and that Israel's ambassador in Rome has simultaneously served as non-resident ambassador to Malta.[6]

An Israeli diplomatic-missions listing gives December 1965 as the date relations were established, and a 2025 Jerusalem Post report also identifies 1965 as the establishment year and describes 2025 as the 60th anniversary.[5][2] A 2014 commemoration instead described 50 years of ties from a 1964 baseline; the sources do not reconcile the difference.[7] Malta's embassy in Israel, originally sharing premises with Cyprus's mission, relocated in early 2019 to larger offices in Tel Aviv's Sarona district.[8]

Friendly relations and cooperation between Israel and Malta predate Maltese independence, which came in 1964.[6] During the late 1950s, Maltese Labour Party leader Dom Mintoff attempted, without success, to mediate between Israel and Egypt.[6] Israeli experts subsequently assisted Malta in dairy, poultry, and afforestation projects in the early years after independence.[6]

A revealing window into early Cold War-era sensitivities appears in a U.S. diplomatic telegram drafted on October 30, 1969, which described Maltese anxiety about what it called "recent unfounded Arab charges that Malta, with US and NATO help, is providing military facilities to Israel."[9] The telegram placed this concern in the context of Malta's desire to maintain good relations with Arab states — particularly Libya — and to develop commercial activity there.[9] The episode was linked to the de Carlo incident of September 23, 1969, in which a U.S. educator attempted to smuggle a Jewish Libyan out of Libya aboard an aircraft bound for Malta.[9]

In April 2005, Israeli Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom and Maltese Foreign Minister Michael Frendo signed a bilateral cooperation agreement on health and medicine, encouraging exchanges of experts, information about international medical congresses, and medical bibliographies.[6]

October 2013 marked what the Jewish Virtual Library describes as the first official visit to Israel by a Maltese government leader, when Prime Minister Joseph Muscat met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.[6] Malta's ambassador later described it as Muscat's first foreign visit after taking office and characterized it as a "launching pad" for bilateral relations.[8] The two countries subsequently issued a joint postage stamp to mark their diplomatic anniversary. Designed by Ronen Goldberg and valued at NIS 3.90, the stamp paired a view of the Hospitallers' refectory in Acre with a hall in the Hospitallers Hospital in Valletta, and included both countries' flags.[7] First-day covers issued in January 2014 showed Acre's sea wall alongside Valletta's port fortifications.[7]

At a December 2021 credentials ceremony, Maltese Ambassador Cecilia Attard Pirotta returned to Israel for another posting after her immediate successor left unexpectedly.[10] Israeli President Isaac Herzog said that some criticism from Malta had been unfair and that Israel wanted to improve relations; the ambassador acknowledged that improvement was possible culturally but more difficult politically.[10] A warmer note followed in July 2025, when Maltese Ambassador Claude Bonello presented his credentials to President Herzog, saying, "I come in friendship." The two discussed Malta's potential to attract Israeli tourists, with direct flights and the island's Mediterranean location cited as advantages.[2]

In August 2026, Malta decided to recognize Israel's Teudat Ma'avar — a travel document issued in lieu of a national passport — allowing Israeli holders to enter Malta.[6][11] Malta had previously been the only Schengen-area country that accepted Israeli passports but not this alternative document.[11] Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar welcomed the decision following discussions with his Maltese counterpart, Chris Fearne, saying it would enable all Israelis to travel to Malta.[6][11]

Bilateral trade between Israel and Malta, while modest in scale, has covered a range of goods. A 2010 report citing the Israel Export Institute put bilateral trade in the preceding year at $32 million: $22 million in Israeli exports — mainly chemicals and petroleum refining products — and $10 million in imports, principally chemical products.[12] In the first quarter of 2010 alone, exports reached $48 million and imports $17 million, attributed to a large chemical-export transaction.[12] Malta's imports from Israel have also included mineral oils and aircraft parts.[13]

In a 2010 interview, Maltese Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi noted that Israeli businesses could contribute to Malta and pointed to its EU membership, which began in 2004, as a bridge to broader European markets.[12] He also highlighted Malta's geographic proximity to North Africa as a potential commercial gateway to countries such as Libya and Tunisia.[12]

At a 2022 European Rabbinical Conference held in Malta, Maltese Economy Minister Silvio Schembri described Israel as a "natural partner," particularly in technological research, and said his government sought stronger political and economic ties.[14] The report identified investment and tourism as additional areas for cooperation and discussed new technologies such as artificial intelligence.[14] Adrian Said, identified as president of Malta's association of state-owned companies, pointed to tax incentives and other advantages Malta offers investors.[14]

Scheduled direct air services have been a recurring feature of Israel–Malta ties. Air Malta launched scheduled Malta–Tel Aviv flights on April 21, 2017, offering up to three weekly summer departures between Valletta and Ben Gurion International Airport.[15] The airline's chief commercial officer noted that the airline had previously operated charter flights on the route with Israeli tour operators and that the market had matured enough for scheduled service.[15] By 2018, Malta received 22,645 visitors from Israel — a 36 percent increase over 2017 — with Air Malta operating three weekly flights in winter and five in summer.[8]

In February 2026, KM Malta Airlines announced a planned Malta–Tel Aviv route beginning May 27, with twice-weekly flights on Wednesdays and Sundays.[16][17] Ynetnews described KM Malta Airlines as the only carrier offering a direct connection between the countries at the time of publication, but the cited reports announced a future service and did not confirm that the flights subsequently began operating.[16][17]

Malta has legislated January 27 as its national day for commemorating the Holocaust.[18] In December 2015, Yad Vashem's International School for Holocaust Studies sent educator Yiftach Ashkenazy to Malta — the first visit to Malta by a Yad Vashem expert.[18] He met Maltese educational authorities at the Foreign Ministry in Valletta, and discussions were held about organizing a seminar for Maltese educators at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem.[18] On January 27, 2016, Ashkenazy participated in an educational program and remembrance ceremony at Verdala Palace, supported by Israel's Foreign Ministry and held under the auspices of Malta's President's Foundation for the Wellbeing of Society.[18]

Malta has participated in several United Nations Security Council votes related to the Gaza conflict. On November 15, 2023, Malta voted in favor of Resolution 2712, which concerned humanitarian pauses in Gaza and the release of hostages; the resolution passed 12–0 with three abstentions.[19] On December 22, 2023, Malta supported Resolution 2720, which passed 13–0 with two abstentions.[20] On March 25, 2024, Malta voted for Resolution 2728, which passed 14–0 with one abstention.[20] Malta again voted in favor on June 10, 2024, when Resolution 2735, concerning a Gaza ceasefire, passed 14–0 with one abstention.[21]

Malta also hosted a UN-organized International Meeting in Support of Israeli-Palestinian Peace on February 12–13, 2010, focused on addressing permanent-status issues.[22] Malta is listed as a member of the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People.[13]

The question of Palestinian statehood has been a persistent point of divergence in Israel–Malta relations. An INSS paper records that Malta recognized Palestine on November 15, 1988, before it joined the European Union.[3] The available sources do not explain how that recognition relates to Malta's later announcements and diplomatic actions. In April 2024, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that he had agreed with the leaders of Ireland, Malta, and Slovenia to take initial steps toward recognizing Palestinian statehood, though the cited report did not establish that Malta undertook a new formal recognition at that stage.[23]

In July 2025, Prime Minister Robert Abela announced that Malta would recognize a Palestinian state during the UN General Assembly in September, describing the planned move as reflecting Malta's commitment to lasting Middle East peace.[24] At a French-Saudi-convened conference on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, Abela announced Malta's recognition of a Palestinian state.[4] The Jewish Virtual Library dates the action to September 23, while the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center and Encyclopaedia Britannica place it on September 22.[25][26][27] The Jewish Virtual Library lists Andorra, Belgium, Luxembourg, Monaco, Portugal, and San Marino among the countries recognizing during the conference itself.[25] Abela said the decision demonstrated Malta's practical commitment to a two-state solution and that Malta unequivocally supported Israel's right to exist alongside a democratic Palestinian state.[4] Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas thanked Malta among the countries recognizing a Palestinian state in statements between September 21 and 23 and again during remarks at the UN conference.[28]

Israel characterized unilateral recognition as a "prize for terror" following Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack.[29] Malta's foreign minister also signed a joint statement on July 29, 2025, alongside other Western foreign ministers. The statement condemned the October 7 Hamas terrorist attack, called for a ceasefire and the unconditional release of hostages, reaffirmed support for a two-state solution, and urged countries to establish normal relations with Israel.[30]

In the months following October 7, 2023, Malta was among the European countries that restated a critical position toward Israel, though the cited source did not detail Malta-specific policy measures.[31]

On May 31, 2010, Malta's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Tonio Borg condemned what he described as the "disproportionate use of violence" during the Gaza flotilla incident, called for a full inquiry, and characterized Gaza's humanitarian situation as a grave concern requiring an urgent, durable solution.[32] Israel's ambassador to Rome, Gideon Meir, who was concurrently responsible for Malta, described Malta as highly critical of Israel on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict even while remaining interested in developing closer ties; he was also quoted as saying that Malta had no manifestations of antisemitism.[12] A separate incident — in which a Maltese peace activist was reportedly wounded by Israeli army fire near the Kissufim crossing — was said to have angered Malta's government, with Ambassador Meir promising that the Israel Defense Forces would investigate and share its findings with Malta.[12]

The available sources leave several chronology questions unresolved. The year diplomatic relations were established is reported as either 1964 or 1965, depending on the source.[7][2] More significantly, an INSS paper records Malta's recognition of Palestine on November 15, 1988, while sources from 2025 describe Malta as announcing or formally declaring recognition at the United Nations; none explains the legal or diplomatic relationship between the two actions.[3][25]

Sources also differ on the date of the 2025 action. The Jewish Virtual Library gives September 23, while the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center and Encyclopaedia Britannica give September 22.[25][26][27] The sources do not establish the reason for the one-day difference. These points should therefore be presented as unresolved source discrepancies rather than harmonized into a single definitive timeline.