Radio România Internațional

Tag: attacks on Israel

  • October 13, 2023 UPDATE

    October 13, 2023 UPDATE

    MIDDLE EAST CRISIS – In a telephone conversation with his Israeli counterpart,
    Isaac Herzog, Romania’s president, Klaus Iohannis, on Friday condemned the
    unacceptable attacks against Israel, expressing regret over the loss of
    countless innocent lives. Romania is ready to provide emergency assistance if
    required, Klaus Iohannis said, thanking president Herzog for Israel’s support
    in helping Romanian citizens get back safely. The Knesset on Thursday voted the
    creation of a national emergency government and a war cabinet. Pundits say an
    extended coalition is needed to pass military and political decisions over the
    coming days after last Saturday’s unprecedented attack on Israel. Launched by
    Hamas insurgents in Gaza, the attack and the ensuing Israeli retaliation strikes
    have already killed thousands of people on both sides. Some 150 people are held
    hostage by Hamas in Gaza.




    ROMANIAN VICTIMS – Two
    Romanians with Israeli citizenship and residing in Israel have been killed
    since the start of the crisis in the Middle East, the Romanian Foreign Ministry
    announced. One fatality was announced by Israeli authorities on October 9 while
    another person reported missing on Thursday was confirmed dead on Friday. The
    Romanian MFA has conveyed condolences to the victims’ families, firmly
    condemning terrorism in all its forms. The Romanian Embassy in Tel Aviv and the
    General Consulate in Haifa are in permanent contact with Israeli authorities to
    collect reports on Romanian citizens.




    REPATRIATIONS – Over 2,160 Romanian
    nationals have been brought back home safely from Israel onboard flights
    operated by the national airline TAROM, the Romanian Foreign Ministry
    announced. A few hundred Romanians in Gaza are monitored by Bucharest
    authorities as well, although only some request assistance to get home. Prime
    Minister Marcel Ciolacu says the Cabinet might cover repatriation costs for
    citizens with low income and has called on Romanians to avoid pilgrimages to
    Israel.




    PRODUCTION – Romania’s
    agricultural production in 2022 stood at nearly 22 bln EUR, according to data
    published by the National Statistics Institute. Yields went up slightly in the
    south compared to the previous year. Overall, however, total output went down
    by as much as 39%. Compared to 2021, livestock reported increases in developing
    regions in the west, northwest, south and center.




    FOOTBALL – Romania’s national
    football side ended in a goaless draw their Thursday’s match against Belarus in
    Budapest as part of the EURO 2024 preliminaries. Although they managed a good
    show on Thursday, the Romanians failed to defeat a rather modest opponent.
    Belarus is playing its games on neutral ground, under a UEFA decision. In
    another Group I game, Kosovo defeated Andorra 3-0 while the match pitting Israel
    against Switzerland has been postponed for November 15th. After the draw on
    Thursday, Romania ranks second in the group with 13 points after Switzerland
    with 14. Israel ranks third with 11 points, followed by Kosovo with 7, Belarus
    with 5 and Andorra with 2. On Sunday, Romania will be playing Andorra at home
    in a game where only children under 14 are granted access to the stadium. (DB
    & VP)

  • Romania condemns the attacks on Israel

    Romania condemns the attacks on Israel

    Many wonder how it was possible
    for a country like Israel, boasting highly-trained intelligence spread across
    an entire network in the Middle East, to actually be so vulnerable. A number of
    questions have started to arise. Some analysts say this vulnerability, which
    few had believed could exist, stems from Israel’s growing weakness amidst the ruling coalition’s efforts to promote a
    controversial judicial reform. The opposition, the civil society and some
    representatives of the army and law enforcement agencies, have challenged this
    law, claiming it undermines the country’s democratic fabric. Beyond the state’s
    responsibility, the hard reality on the ground, the fate of the civilians
    caught in the middle of this conflict, sparks the darkest fears of the
    international democratic community. The attacks of the Hamas terrorist
    organization on Israel have been strongly condemned by Western states.

    US
    President Joe Biden highlighted Israel’s undisputed right to defend itself and
    warned forces hostile to Israel, such as Iran, against taking advantage of the
    current developments. European institutions and states have also harshly
    condemned the attacks, and Bucharest made no exception. We stand with Israel
    in these terrible times. Our thoughts go to the families of the victims and to
    the people who were attacked, president Klaus Iohannis tweeted. The president
    strongly condemned the large-scale terrorist attack on Israel, adding it has a
    highly toxic potential of further destabilizing the security context in the
    Middle East. For a very long time, the international community has been trying
    to identify solutions in this region, and unfortunately today’s events
    backtrack these efforts. This attack could potentially destabilize the Middle
    East, and I hope the situation will be brought under control swiftly and all
    parties will resume diplomatic talks, president Iohannis went on to say.
    According to the Romanian official, Israel has a clear right to defend itself
    in the given situation.

    Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu also condemned the
    attacks on Israel, calling for an immediate ceasefire. The head of government
    conveyed his condolences to the victims’ families, also expressing Romania’s
    solidarity with Israel. The Romanian Foreign Ministry also firmly condemned the
    Hamas attacks, including those targeting the civilian population, the
    terrorists who infiltrated the country and took people hostage. The Romanian
    MFA expressed its deep regret for the victims of these attacks and conveyed
    messages of condolence to families in mourning and of solidarity to the
    families of the wounded. The Foreign Ministry underscored Israel’s sovereign
    right to defend itself and in turn condemned terrorism in all its forms. (VP)