{"id":204771,"date":"2026-03-19T14:13:36","date_gmt":"2026-03-19T12:13:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/?p=204771"},"modified":"2026-03-19T14:13:37","modified_gmt":"2026-03-19T12:13:37","slug":"zoran-milanovic-we-live-in-a-time-of-barbarism-violence-and-contempt-for-international-law-croatia-should-recognize-palestine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/zoran-milanovic-we-live-in-a-time-of-barbarism-violence-and-contempt-for-international-law-croatia-should-recognize-palestine\/","title":{"rendered":"ZORAN MILANOVI\u0106: We live in a time of barbarism, violence and contempt for international law, Croatia should recognize Palestine!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Croatian President Zoran Milanovi\u0107 stated that no changes in the positions of the state leadership on Israel should be expected from the sessions of the National Security Council (VNS) and the Defense Council, which were proposed by Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovi\u0107.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Milanovi\u0107 said last night in Vela Luka that he agrees with Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovi\u0107 that sessions of the VNS and the Defense Council should be held, but also that there is no need to rush.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Plenkovi\u0107 requested that the two councils hold sessions on the topics of the war in Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East and energy issues, not excluding a discussion on Serbia\u2019s arming with hypersonic missiles, which has been a topic among Croatian officials in recent days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cDo not expect any tectonic shifts or changes in positions. If someone believes that Israel is our ally and friend, there is no help for them,\u201d said Milanovi\u0107.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He described a discussion on that topic \u201camong serious people\u201d as a waste of time. \u201cI am immovable in that stance, as well as in the view that Croatia should have recognized Palestine, which even the United Kingdom has done,\u201d Milanovi\u0107 added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At the end of February, Milanovi\u0107 said that Israel is pursuing a brutal policy and cannot be a reliable partner for Croatia, criticizing the visit of Defense Minister Ivan Anu\u0161i\u0107 to Israel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa\u2019ar last week accused Milanovi\u0107 of antisemitism after the Croatian president sharply criticized Israel\u2019s ambassador in Zagreb, Gary Koren, who called on Croatia to sever diplomatic relations with Iran and conduct a security check of the staff of the Iranian Embassy in Zagreb, as there could be a member of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Because of those statements, Ambassador Koren was summoned to Pantov\u010dak, where he was warned about \u201cunacceptable and harmful\u201d remarks that \u201cdisturb the public and harm Croatia.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That the chances of reaching consensus on several issues between Pantov\u010dak and Banski dvori are small was also stated by Plenkovi\u0107 himself yesterday, Hina reports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"und\" dir=\"ltr\">MILANOVI\u0106: Postoje ljudi koji ubijaju, gaze i pale bez posljedica. Ako im se suprotstavi\u0161. Odmah si progla\u0161en antisemitom.<br><br>To je politika ucjene.<br>Poruka je jasna: oni smiju sve, drugi ni\u0161ta.<br>A kad narodi izgube moral dolazi kazna.<br><br>Sirija je ve\u0107 razorena.<br>Sada je na redu Iran.\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/z9ojFx1h30\">pic.twitter.com\/z9ojFx1h30<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Dominik Alpeza (@alpezad) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/alpezad\/status\/2033616268079632401?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 16, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote> <script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe will send an initiative to convene the sessions because we believe there are too many topics we can at least discuss. Obviously, we will not agree on anything because we have a President of the Republic who for all these years has pursued a pro-Russian, anti-Ukrainian, anti-NATO policy, anti-EU policy, and recently has embarked on an anti-Israeli policy,\u201d Plenkovi\u0107 said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On Sunday, Milanovi\u0107 commented on claims by journalists who said that in circles close to the government it is being said that Croatia does not want to upset Israel in order to ease its entry into the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), saying that he did not even know Israel was in that organization, but that it is \u201cterrible.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Milanovi\u0107 called OECD membership secondary for Croatia, but something that is \u201cpersonally very important for Plenkovi\u0107.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThere, votes are cast by Israel and the United States and Hungary. One vote is enough to block you, but the ambition to enter the OECD cannot be paid at such a high price,\u201d Milanovi\u0107 said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He emphasized that the issue of Israel should be addressed more seriously, but that there is no way for him to convince anyone otherwise and that it certainly will not change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He stressed that Israel belongs among the states that \u201cshould no longer be considered at all\u201d and added that a significant majority of people in Croatia think so as well. \u201cAnd why Plenkovi\u0107 and his associates do not see that, I do not know,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Banski dvori and Pantov\u010dak clashed last year, among other things, over the recognition of Palestine, in a year when Israel and Hamas reached a fragile truce that halted the Israeli offensive on the devastated Palestinian enclave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Milanovi\u0107 did not refrain from criticizing Israel at the time, saying it \u201cpursues a criminal policy,\u201d and he described the war in Gaza as a \u201cmassacre.\u201d The government rejected Milanovi\u0107\u2019s proposal to recognize Palestine, explaining that it would be possible when conditions are met and an agreement between the two sides is reached.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">We live in years of barbarism, trampling and contempt for international law<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Croatian President Zoran Milanovi\u0107 said that the times are terrible and that \u201cwe live in weeks and years of violence, barbarism, trampling and contempt for international law and norms, and this by those who know best how to invoke them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe times are terrible. Croatia in these times, perhaps for the first time in history, enjoys the benefit of position, the fortune of being in a relatively calm and safe place,\u201d Milanovi\u0107 said last night at the ceremonial session of the Municipal Council of Vela Luka.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Milanovi\u0107 said that today Croatia should look after its own interest, take care of itself first and not allow itself to be misled by any grand phrases and slogans about solidarity with anyone, about helping this or that. \u201cTo ensure that you do not betray certain fundamental human principles, principles and foundations \u2014 that should be the guiding thread for Croatia,\u201d Milanovi\u0107 said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cCroatia, as rarely in history, has the opportunity to look after itself, its own business, and to make decisions exclusively from that perspective. And to hope that this storm, and this time of evil, will pass, that better times will come and calmer and more reasonable moments. Until then, let us stick together,\u201d Milanovi\u0107 said, Hina reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:#FFFFFF;color:#d21414\" class=\"has-inline-color\">MORE TOPICS:<\/mark><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/talented-twins-decided-to-play-for-serbia-jug-and-vid-grew-up-in-germany-they-train-at-werder-and-here-is-why-they-chose-the-eagles\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">TALENTED TWINS DECIDED TO PLAY FOR SERBIA: Jug and Vid grew up in Germany, they train at Werder, and here is why they chose the Eagles!<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/bravo-novak-serbian-wunderkind-who-stacked-up-medals-at-olympiads-is-today-a-student-of-the-most-prestigious-college-at-the-famous-cambridge\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">BRAVO, NOVAK! Serbian wunderkind who stacked up medals at olympiads is today a student of the most prestigious college at the famous Cambridge!<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/feat-by-students-from-pozega-that-amazed-serbia-instead-of-excursions-children-go-to-hilandar-to-prune-vineyards-and-help-monks\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">FEAT BY STUDENTS FROM PO\u017dEGA THAT AMAZED SERBIA: Instead of excursions, children go to Hilandar to prune vineyards and help monks!<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/brotherly-love-stronger-than-anything-little-jakov-8-walked-from-kragujevac-to-belgrade-and-collected-24000-euros-for-his-sisters-treatment-photo\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">BROTHERLY LOVE STRONGER THAN ANYTHING: Little Jakov (8) walked from Kragujevac to Belgrade and collected 24,000 euros for his sister\u2019s treatment! (PHOTO)<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/lest-we-forget-the-march-pogrom-in-kosovo-was-deadly-for-many-serbs-while-thousands-got-expelled\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">LEST WE FORGET: The March pogrom in Kosovo was deadly for many Serbs, while thousands got expelled!<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source<\/strong>:  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.politika.rs\/sr\/clanak\/740131\/zivimo-u-godinama-divljastva-gazenja-i-prezira-medunarodnog-prava\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Politika<\/a>; <strong>Foto<\/strong>: ATA Images<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Croatian President Zoran Milanovi\u0107 stated that no changes in the positions of the state leadership on Israel should be expected from the sessions of the National Security Council (VNS) and the Defense Council, which were proposed by Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovi\u0107. Milanovi\u0107 said last night in Vela Luka that he agrees with Prime Minister Andrej [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2169,"featured_media":204772,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"newspack_featured_image_position":"","newspack_post_subtitle":"","newspack_article_summary_title":"Overview:","newspack_article_summary":"","newspack_hide_updated_date":false,"newspack_show_updated_date":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[71,4357,72,117,129,7080,78,11439,23],"class_list":["post-204771","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-balkan","tag-amerika","tag-bezbednost","tag-bliski-istok","tag-hrvatska","tag-izrael","tag-napad-na-iran","tag-palestina","tag-rat-u-iranu","tag-sad","entry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"Serbiantimes.info EN","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/204771","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2169"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=204771"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/204771\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":204810,"href":"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/204771\/revisions\/204810"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/204772"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=204771"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=204771"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/serbiantimes.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=204771"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}