Bosnia and Herzegovina as a small Israel in the Balkans

A silent diplomatic war between Israel and Turkey over Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Balkan region.
What do the announcements of high-ranking Israeli diplomats about BiH as "a small Israel in the Balkans" or "a larger Israel in the Balkans" mean

Dragan Čović in a firm Zionist embrace is merely an instrument in achieving the "great
vision" of Israeli diplomacy in BiH

By: Fuad Đidić

In the days while it is committing unprecedented genocide in Gaza, Israel is strengthening its influence in BiH through silent diplomacy. There are at least two strong, strategic reasons for such Israeli activity.

The first is regional in nature, and it consists of curbing Turkey's growing influence in the countries of the region, especially in BiH, Kosovo, and Albania.

The second, far more important reason for us, is maintaining the existing dysfunctional system of government in BiH, which allows the pro-Zionist Čović's HDZBiH to completely control the political and economic life of the Federation of BiH.

The silent diplomatic war between Israel and Turkey in the Balkan region first came into the public spotlight during the 23rd Mostar International Economy Fair in May 2023. That year, Israel agreed to be the general sponsor of the Fair, which the Republic of Turkey had sponsored in 2016. However, Israel used this sponsorship of the Mostar Fair much more skillfully and intelligently than Turkey did diplomatically.

Not only did the strongest delegation from Tel Aviv arrive in Mostar (Director of the Balkan Department at the Israeli MFA and his deputy, and the non-resident Ambassador of Israel to BiH), but a large business stand was also set up, which greatly fascinated and surpassed the previous presence of all companies, as well as companies from Turkey.

In addition to all this, Israel's presence was largely strengthened by the full support of the leader of the M.T. "Abraham" business group, Amir G. Kabiri, who in the meantime, in September 2022, was accepted as a member of the Conference of European Rabbis (CER), the strongest and most influential Jewish organization in Europe, which closely cooperates with the World Jewish Congress (WJC) and the American AIPAC.

From this example, it became clear even then that Israel is not using this fair only for the development and promotion of
business and commercial ties, but, above all, for strengthening its political influence on the authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

These political ambitions of Israel were most vividly recognized through the close ties of Amir Kabiri, which this 42-year-old Israeli businessman, without much prior experience in the business world, built in a relatively short time from 2020 to 2023 with the entire economic and political elite of Herzegovina, and especially with its undisputed leader Dragan Čović.

Amir Gross Kabiri, who added his middle, "mystical" name "Gross" at the suggestion of his European Kabbalah teacher, and just before arriving in Mostar, achieved, under very suspicious circumstances, (the sale of Aluminij bypassing sanctions against Russia...) a profit for the company "Aluminij" of 55 million KM in 2022 alone, thus becoming the main and indispensable patron of the social and political life of Mostar, while at the same time paying the Government of the Federation of BiH only a token monthly rent of 30 thousand KM for the entire technological base of the Aluminij factory.

Kabiri, now as a powerful new businessman, first accepted the position of vice-president at HNK "Zrinjski", and then registered the "Chamber of Commerce of the State of Israel in BiH", which, as later admitted by Dalfina Bošnjak, the Fair's director, already has concrete plans for investment in Mostar and Herzegovina.

As the profit of "Aluminij" rapidly grew with millions of marks, Kabiri also announced the launch of other major projects, among which should be highlighted the announcement of the purchase of media, into which, according to his own statements, he would bring "Israeli journalists" as instructors (there was talk of buying the newspaper Dnevnik). However, one should not forget the recent announcements about projects in the pharmaceutical and defense industry, which remain quite a mystery, especially since HDZ BiH insists on entering defense industry factories in the territory of FBiH.

That these were not just empty ambitions of Kabiri needed to achieve political influence on the course of social life in BiH is confirmed by his numerous flattering statements about "capable leaders" in BiH through whom he is integrating into the most important political currents in the country.

In these statements, Kabiri exclusively singles out the "experienced and wise" Dragan Čović, who is "pro-European oriented", to whom he also attributes historically inaccurate epithets, such as that he supposedly did "a lot for the Jewish people" and that he is responsible for "strengthening relations with the state of Israel".

On the other hand, Kabiri also maintains close cooperation with Dodik, but he does not speak of him in such flattering terms as a "capable leader in BiH" as he does of Dragan Čović. However, Dodik, through Kabari, came into contact with several important companies, such as "ELTA Systems", specializing in the production of spy equipment, which he introduced into Republika Srpska "through the back door".

Israel's official policy in the Balkans needs close ties with Dragan Čović, as well as with Milorad Dodik, primarily to realize the "great vision" that Kabiri has very explicitly summarized in the "enigmatic" words "we are here to stay...".

It is completely clear that through these personal connections, a completely different agenda from the officially proclaimed one is being realized: we are engaging with the aim of "building a powerful and strong" state in the region through "innovation, entrepreneurship, and skills".

"We are here to stay, to help you grow with advice. We were also a small country full of problems in the Middle East, we had no reserves of gas, gold, diamonds, or fuel, we were the smallest country, and now we are the most powerful country in the Middle East, all through innovation, entrepreneurship, and human skills" (Amir Kabiri)

This well-thought-out vision, in which Dragan Čović seems to be merely a means to achieve the ultimate goal of "we are here to stay", which perhaps hints at a policy of "settlement" or something else..., was followed, however, by a whole series of incidents and threats that shocked Kabiri and sharply divided the public in BiH.

It was not long ago that Kabiri stunned our public by issuing a rather clear threat to the then mayor of Sarajevo, Benjamina Karić, due to her "pro-Palestinian stance". Then, another shock followed when Kabiri, as the new president of the Jewish community in Mostar, sent threats to Sarajevo, now to the leaders of the Jewish Community, individually to Vladimir Andrle, who, along with Jakob Finci, is trying to maintain previously strong and sincere contacts with the highest representatives of Muslims in BiH during this very difficult time.

As an illustration of aggressive and relentless antagonism, especially towards Muslims in BiH, and the brazen disregard for everything Bosniaks did during the Holocaust to save Jewish lives, and what they are doing today in maintaining dialogue with Jews in BiH, this little-known story from Mostar can serve.



Several Bosniaks from Mostar reacted with justified anger when Kabiri's men set up barricades on the roads around the Aluminij factory, where numerous Israeli flags were raised, which was more reminiscent of an aggressive provocation than a sign of his true patriotism.

That Kabiri's years-long and persistent aggressiveness, especially towards Bosniaks, is not just a mere coincidence was confirmed by "Jerusalem Post" on September 18, 2024, when it published a devastating article "The threat of Bosnian Islamic terrorism is growing amid attacks on Israeli targets".

In this article, full of Zionist Islamophobia towards the Muslims of Bosnia, among other things, a striking sentence was written that deeply resonates with the current theses about apartheid against Bosniaks.

"Bosniak Muslims are a security threat that requires surveillance and control."

However, in this rather long article from the front pages of a leading Israeli newspaper, the real reasons for the complete dehumanization of Bosniaks are revealed. Apparently, the real problem is Israel's concern about how to curb the growing influence, power, and prestige of Turkey in the Balkans, not concern about how to deal with Bosniaks as a supposed "security threat" in the Balkans.

In this regard, the battles to curb Turkey's influence in the Balkans should be understood through this key passage from "Jerusalem Post": "the Muslim population in Bosnia and Herzegovina is under significant influence from radical Islamist elements, including the Muslim Brotherhood, Turkey, and Iran".

***

The visit of high-ranking diplomats from the Israeli MFA in May 2023 was actually used by Israel to send several strong and very clear messages intended for political leaders, which did not escape careful observers of Israel's diplomatic activities in the Balkans, and especially in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Dan Oryan, director of the Balkan department at the Israeli MFA, during his address to numerous guests at the Mostar Fair, according to media reports ("Večernji" and "Avaz" from May 8, 2023), first commented on the "powerful Israeli pavilion at the Fair in Mostar" and further stated that "the presentation of Israel's capabilities at this level has not happened anywhere in the Balkans before". The guest from Israel gave Mostar a special place and role in realizing the "great vision" that this country's diplomacy is implementing in reshaping Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the entire Balkans.

"I don't think it's a coincidence that we are here because we see great potential here and we want to find a place for cooperation in many areas."

Furthermore, Dan Oryan emphasized, "We hope to do great things here." And then he uttered the key sentence in which, apparently, the real reason for his visit to Mostar lies: "If you ask me, there is no doubt that Bosnia and Herzegovina could be 'a small Israel in the Balkans', but also 'a larger Israel in the Balkans'."

In this context of supposedly "good wishes", it is important to recall that none of the three high-ranking official representatives of the state of Israel, during their visit to Mostar, spoke a single word of criticism about the character and causes of the country's existing dysfunctional system, nor did they even formally support any political endeavor in BiH that is based on the vision of a European BiH as a NATO member, so that this country would be transformed into a "normal country".

So much for the real content of the statement about Bosnia as "a small Israel in the Balkans".

However, it is significant that the leader of HDZ BiH, Dragan Čović, was the only one to receive undivided support from the Israeli delegation as an "authentic leader with European legitimacy".

Perhaps the formula for Čović's untouchability, as well as the untouchability of the elites he controls, lies precisely in his "firm embrace" with the Zionist movement and in the fact that he is merely an instrument for the realization of a much larger and more serious vision of transforming BiH, as well as transforming the Balkan region, in line with the vision of creating a "small Israel in the Balkans".

Thanks to the tacit consent of European politicians, mostly pro-Zionist elites, Čović is fulfilling his mandate as the "architect of a new and different design of BiH" and, for this reason, has been placed at the very center of all political currents in the Federation of BiH as their undisputed master.

In addition to all the aforementioned praise for HDZ BiH's policies, Dan Oryan, above all, made another very unusual statement in which he expressed his visions of Israeli tourists coming to BiH in a very enigmatic and euphoric way.

"We want to see tourists, we want to see hundreds of thousands of Israelis coming here because we have seen the landscapes and places, they are incredible and we should come here."

What an irony of diplomacy. Just a year after this statement, the leading "Jerusalem Post" would write extensively and devastatingly about "terrorism among Muslims in Bosnia" that needs to be "brought under control".

***

On the other side of the region, a year after the physical entry of the M.T. "Abraham" group onto BiH soil, Israel, in an incredible series of circumstances in 2020, recognized the Republic of Kosovo.

This rather late recognition is interpreted by the Israeli MFA as an "economic normalization of relations between the two countries", which is very unusual since it was merely a formal exchange of notes.

In return for recognizing the state of Kosovo, Israel received a promise from Pristina that they would locate their diplomatic headquarters in Jerusalem instead of Tel Aviv, where all European embassies are located, along with several South American countries.

Of course, there is nothing here that resembles "economic normalization", but there is certainly an important reason for this Israeli diplomatic turn towards the Balkans.

It should be added that Israeli diplomacy achieved its full success by managing to simultaneously convince Serbia to also relocate its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Israel's interest and cooperation with the Balkan countries are gaining full momentum, especially in 2023/24, during Israel's systematic and complete destruction of Gaza and its unprecedented treatment of Gaza's civilians.

According to the findings of the research network BIRN and the Israeli newspaper "Haaretz", Serbia, immediately after America, became the second largest supplier of ammunition and other light weapons to the Israeli army.

In the period from January to July 2024, Serbia supplied Israel with ammunition and other combat equipment worth an incredible 23 million euros. According to Haaretz, Israeli military planes most frequently land at "Nikola Tesla" airport in Belgrade. According to the same sources, as many as 15 Israeli cargo planes were on duty transporting ammunition and other combat equipment from Belgrade to the Israeli port of Navatim.

This close cooperation between Serbia and Israel during the genocide in Gaza, although it reached its peak during 2023/24, began, in the full sense of the word, back in 2020, when a partnership between the two countries was established for the transfer of technologies in the military industry with one goal – the modernization of outdated, predominantly Russian military equipment in Serbian military warehouses.

***

While the ink was drying on the contract signed by the President of Albania with Turkey for the delivery of kamikaze drones, Edi Rama, in September 2024, revealed plans that shocked the entire Balkan region.

This plan, which is reasonably believed to be essentially an American project, consists of establishing a "Bektashi microstate" based on the Vatican model near the capital city of Tirana.

With this plan, Edi Rama ignited very serious discussions, especially within the Muslim communities in Kosovo and Albania. This phenomenon was most carefully investigated by Osman Atalay, who confirmed that the Bektashi dervish order, which he says has grown into an apparatus of American foreign policy over time.

At the head of this order since 2011 is Baba Mondi, who was a former agent of the Albanian secret service "Sigurimi". But what is particularly interesting in the promotion of this project? Many observers have noted that Baba Mondi, during the visit of the Israeli president to Albania in September 2024, met with President Herzog as the first Muslim to ever agree to such a meeting with the highest representative of a state accused of genocide against Muslims by the ICC.

With this act of meeting, Baba Mondi made it very clear that behind the Bektashi, Vatican microstate stands the American administration with the full support of Israel, with goals that can be far-reaching for the unity of Sunni Muslims in the Balkan region.

***

It is evident that there are serious plans by Israel not only to curb Turkey's influence in the region but also to transform, especially "dysfunctional Bosnia and Herzegovina" into a "small Israel in the Balkans" or a "larger Israel in the Balkans", as confirmed by a high-ranking diplomat from the Israeli MFA in Mostar in early May 2023.

That such a possibility of "transforming" the territory of one of the existing countries on European soil, after the genocidal war in Gaza, cannot be ruled out, we could hear, among other things, in the statement of former NATO Secretary General Anders F. Rasmussen, who, just one year after Zelensky's statement about Ukraine as a future "great Israel" (June 2022), stated in early 2023 that "his goal is the transformation of Ukraine into an Eastern European Israel".

It is quite certain that European political elites, under pressure from the Zionist lobby, are increasingly considering the need to transform the territory of the most vulnerable and weakest countries on European territory for the purpose of establishing a new "Eastern European" or "Balkan Israel".

It is obvious that this process of long-term weakening of state authority in BiH and keeping alive a completely failed system of ethnic rule of "constituent peoples" has its own completely different and well-hidden goals.

Perhaps the two great diplomatic powers, Turkey and Israel, which are fiercely fighting for their influence in both BiH and the Balkan region, know much more about this.