Israel–San Marino Relations

San Marino's recognition of Israel is dated March 1, 1995, while formal diplomatic relations are listed as established in November 1995.[2][1] Israel's representation is non-resident, with its ambassador in Italy concurrently accredited to San Marino. H.E. Jonathan Peled is listed as ambassador to both Italy and San Marino.[6]

Multilateral contact predates the formal relationship. Israel was among the countries that jointly introduced the 1992 United Nations draft resolution A/46/L.66 supporting San Marino's admission to UN membership, demonstrating contact between the two states before diplomatic relations were established.[7]

Jewish commercial activity in San Marino can be traced to at least 1369, when a Jewish moneylender named Emanuele of Rimini conducted business there.[8] Documents concerning Jews became numerous from the beginning of the sixteenth century, supporting the inference that an organized Jewish community existed in the republic during that period. The historical record also describes changing restrictions, periods of official protection, and an eventual decline in both the number and significance of Jews in San Marino over subsequent centuries.[8]

This historical connection later provided a backdrop for archival cooperation between Israel and San Marino. In January 2014, Yad Vashem signed an agreement with the San Marino State Archives to receive scanned copies of San Marino's wartime documents.[3] On May 12, 2014, Israel's ambassador-at-large to San Marino, Yosef Gershon, presented Yad Vashem archivist Haim Gertner with a hard drive containing documents intended to illuminate Jewish life in San Marino during the Second World War.[3] The initiative also involved San Marino Foreign Minister Pasquale Valentini.[3] The arrangement formed part of Yad Vashem's effort to gather Holocaust-related material and make it available to the public, and the parties indicated that it could lead to further cooperation in education and research.[9][3]

Modern cooperation has often taken multilateral or targeted forms. On March 24, 2017, Israel and San Marino were both listed as co-authors of UN Security Council draft resolution S/2017/242, which addressed the destruction and trafficking of cultural heritage by terrorist groups in situations of armed conflict. The draft became Security Council Resolution 2347 (2017).[10]

Counterterrorism records show parallel participation rather than a specific bilateral accord. San Marino acceded to the International Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings and ratified the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism on March 12, 2002.[4] A 2006 United States Department of State report recorded Israel as having acceded to or ratified eight of the thirteen terrorism-related conventions and protocols listed in its table.[4]

In February 2021, San Marino was included among countries selected by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel's National Security Council to receive Moderna COVID-19 vaccines.[11] The report said recipient countries generally received between 1,000 and 5,000 doses, but it did not specify San Marino's exact allocation.[11]

The relationship's significance is visible in the contrast between formal diplomatic ties and San Marino's frequent opposition to Israel-friendly positions in the United Nations General Assembly. A database covering votes from 2015 to the present reports that San Marino voted for Israel-friendly positions in approximately 1% of the listed resolutions, or one resolution; against them in 79%, or 143 resolutions; and abstained in 20%, or 37 resolutions.[5]

A separate compilation of overall General Assembly voting coincidence with the United States provides broader context for San Marino's UN alignment. Its coincidence rates were 42.1% in 2005, 42.5% in 2008, and 75% in 2010, followed by rates ranging from 43% to 66.7% through the 2010s and early 2020s and reaching 61% in 2024.[12] These figures cover overall General Assembly voting rather than only Israel-related resolutions.[12]

A concrete example of divergence came in the General Assembly vote on the Goldstone Report resolution concerning the 2008–2009 Gaza war. The resolution urged Israel and the Palestinian side to conduct credible investigations within three months and passed with 114 votes in favor, 18 opposed, and 44 abstentions. Israel voted against the resolution, while San Marino abstained.[13]

Following the Hamas terrorist attack against Israel in October 2023, San Marino's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Luca Beccari, issued a statement expressing deep concern over the escalation of violence and describing the attack as having caused numerous victims and destabilized the region.[14] The statement firmly condemned armed solutions and called on all parties to "relentlessly pursue the path of dialogue."[14] San Marino also expressed sympathy for the victims and people living in the affected area.[14]

San Marino's recognition of a Palestinian state introduced a significant point of tension in its relationship with Israel. In September 2025, San Marino joined France, Malta, Luxembourg, Monaco, and Andorra in announcing recognition at a Franco-Saudi conference held at United Nations headquarters in New York.[15] San Marino was described as the last participating state to join the announcement, and its representative reportedly did not have time to explain the decision because of scheduling disruptions.[15] The recognitions brought the reported total number of states recognizing Palestine to 153, approximately 80% of UN member states.[16]

Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon condemned the summit and said Israel would not participate in what he called "this charade."[17] Conference speakers framed recognition as part of efforts to end the Gaza war, secure the release of hostages, and advance a two-state solution.[17]