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Israel–Kazakhstan relations

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Israel–Kazakhstan relations
Map indicating locations of Israel and Kazakhstan

Israel
Kazakhstan

Israel–Kazakhstan relations refers to the current and historical relations between Israel and Kazakhstan. The countries established diplomatic relations on April 10, 1992. The embassy of Israel, now in Nur-Sultan (formerly Astana), Kazakhstan opened in August 1992. The embassy of Kazakhstan in Tel Aviv, Israel opened in May 1996.

History

The Kazakhstan Secretary of State met with Moshe Kamkhy, Israel's ambassador to Uzbekistan in August 2004 to discuss social and economic ties between the countries and moving the Israeli Embassy to Astana (now Nur-Sultan).

Kazakhstan coat of arms, Tel Aviv

The two countries maintain close contacts in the defense and intelligence sector.[1] Ninety-five Kazakh farmers, managers, and scientists have trained in Israel.[2]

In April 2009, Kazakhstan's National Security Committee claimed that the country's Ministry of Defense knowingly bought faulty artillery and defense systems from Israeli weapons manufacturers. Kazhimurat Mayermanov, a deputy defense minister, was arrested in connection with the case.[1]

In June 2009, Israeli President Shimon Peres visited Kazakhstan, as he had a number of times as foreign minister.[3]

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attended the Kazakh-Israeli business forum in Astana in December 2016.[4] Netanyahu's visit to Kazakhstan was the first by an Israeli head of government.[4]

Some Israeli commentators have signaled that Israel's relations with the Central Asian states, including Kazakhstan, are part of the country's involvement in "The Great Game" for control over the strategic natural resources in Central Asia.[3] In a similar vein, the Islamic Republic of Iran both publicly fumed about and privately tried to cancel Kazakhstan's ties to Israel, to no avail; Iran had earlier tried and failed to have the newly independent former-USSR Muslim majority states ally with them instead of Saudi Arabia and the U.S. in the aftermath of the fall of the Soviet Union, and their anti-Israel moves have been fairly similar in both style and results.[citation needed]

Economic collaboration

Over 25% of Israel's oil purchases are from Kazakhstan, and Kazakhstan is seeking to increase oil sales to Israel.[5]

Israel and Kazakhstan launched the Israel-Kazakhstan Irrigation Demonstration Center in the Almaty region.[6]

Jewish community in Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan's Jewish population surged dramatically when Stalin exiled thousands of Jews from the Pale of Settlement. An additional 8,500 Jews escaped during the Second World War and fled to Kazakhstan.[7] Since 1989, approximately 10,000 Kazakh Jews have relocated to Israel.[8]

The Beit Rachel synagogue in Astana, opened in 2004, is the largest in Central Asia.[9]

In 1999, all of Kazakhstan's Jewish communities were brought together under the All-Kazakhstan Jewish Congress. The country's first synagogue was opened in 2001 by Chabad Lubavitch, and a community center featuring a Jewish day school and summer camps, was also set up.[7]

Today, Kazakhstan's Jewish community of 3,300 has more than 20 Jewish organizations and 14 day schools.[8] Over 700 Jewish students attend 14 Jewish day schools across the country and The Jewish Agency for Israel also sponsors several youth centers across the country where Jewish teens are taught Jewish culture and Hebrew.[7]

The Jewish community of Kazakhstan continues its cultural heritage. In 2007, a youth dance and vocal group Prahim was created in Almaty.[10] The highlight of Prahim's repertoire is the popular Yiddish song, "Bei Mir Bistu Shein", which the band performs in four languages: Kazakh, Russian, Yiddish and Hebrew.[10] In October 2014 the group performed several concerts in Boston and New York City.[10] A reciprocal visit by American Jewish youth performers to Kazakhstan was planned for spring 2015.[10]

In September 2016, the central synagogue in Almaty held the twelfth Torah scroll introduction ceremony. It was a tribute to Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson, the Lubavitch Rebbe's father, after which the Jewish centre of Kazakhstan, Chabad Lubavitch, was named.[11]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Kazakhstan: Military hardware bought from Israel flawed". Reuters. April 13, 2009.
  2. ^ 2004 archive KAZAKHSTAN: Week by Week News Bulletin Released by the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the State of Israel
  3. ^ a b Kazakhstan: Israel's Partner in Eurasia Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, September–October 2009
  4. ^ a b "Israeli Prime Minister Visits Astana, Strengthens Ties".
  5. ^ Kazakhstan seeks to increase oil exports to Israel By KSENIA SVETLOVA, SHARON WROBEL, 11/17/2009, Jerusalem Post
  6. ^ "Israel, Kazakhstan Launch Joint Irrigation Project in Almaty Region". Algemeiner.com. Retrieved October 27, 2015.
  7. ^ a b c "Kazakhstan has a small but thriving Jewish community". Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the USA. Archived from the original on September 3, 2014.
  8. ^ a b "Shalom, Kazakhstan: A Jewish Culture Guide". Shalom Life. Archived from the original on September 5, 2014.
  9. ^ "Largest synagogue in Central Asia opens in Kazakhstan". The Jewish News of Northern California.
  10. ^ a b c d "Jewish Children's Band from Kazakhstan Performs in New England". www.astanatimes.com.
  11. ^ "Jewish Community in Kazakhstan Celebrates Torah Scroll Introduction". astanatimes.com.
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