Prime Minister of the Government of the Republic of Croatia Andrej Plenkovic paid a working visit to the State of Israel on 23 and 24 January 2017, at the invitation of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in the year in which the two countries mark the 20th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations. He was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Damir Krsticevic and Deputy Parliament Speaker and Chair of inter-parliamentary friendship group between Croatia and Israel Milijan Brkic.
Prime Minister Plenkovic discussed possibilities for strengthening political, economic and security cooperation between the two countries with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, Israeli President Reuven Rivlin and the opposition co-leader Tzipi Livni. The two prime ministers signed a joint declaration of intent on cooperation in the field of prevention of disasters and emergency response.
Prime Minister Plenkovic visited Yad Vashem - The World Holocaust Remembrance Center. He toured the Holocaust History Museum, laid a wreath in the Hall of Remembrance, and visited the Children’s Memorial. He also viewed the Oscar statue awarded to Croatian film producer and Holocaust survivor Branko Lustig for the Schindler"s List. In the Yad Vashem Guest Book, among he wrote (excerpts): "My dedication to fight against every form of hate, racism and Holocaust denial has been reinforced by today"s visit and by the remembrance of over 100 Croatian Righteous among the Nations. I express sincere sympathy with the families of the victims and the Jewish people on behalf of the Croatian Government. I join the voices of humanity by saying "Never Again."" Prime Minister planted a tree in the Garden of the Righteous among the Nations.
In a short tour of the Jerusalem Old Town, Prime Minister Plenkovic met Franciscans from Croatia in the Holy Sepulchre Church.
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