Milorad Dodik, the president of Bosnia’s Serb-led entity Republika Srpska and an indicted official facing charges of undermining the constitutional order, traveled to Israel in a bid to secure international legitimacy for his disputed policies. However, the visit ended in a diplomatic failure.
Dodik and his close allies, Nenad Stevandić and Radovan Višković, have been pushing measures that challenge Bosnia and Herzegovina’s constitutional framework. Seeking international backing, Dodik initially looked to the United States, anticipating support if Donald Trump wins the presidency. However, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and bipartisan members of Congress dismissed any such expectations.
Turning to traditional allies, including Serbia, Hungary, and Russia, Dodik also sought support in Israel. His visit to Jerusalem was aimed at bolstering his international standing, but political developments in Israel overshadowed his efforts.
Limited Role at Antisemitism Conference
Dodik was listed as a guest at an Israeli government-organized conference on combating antisemitism. The event, however, faced criticism over its inclusion of far-right European figures, leading several Jewish organizations to boycott it. The Jewish Chronicle, the world’s oldest Jewish newspaper, also condemned Dodik’s participation, citing his history of genocide denial.
Despite reports in pro-government media in Republika Srpska that Dodik played a key role, video evidence showed he only spoke briefly in a public discussion segment, not as a panelist. His remarks, which linked pro-Gaza protests in Europe to Bosnia’s official stance, strayed from diplomatic norms and were widely seen as political rhetoric rather than fact-based discourse.
Diplomatic Misstep with Netanyahu
Dodik’s most significant setback came when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took the stage on the final day of the conference. Before Netanyahu’s speech, Dodik approached him for a handshake and attempted to sit beside him, disregarding diplomatic protocol.
Security personnel swiftly removed Dodik from the area, as seating arrangements at such high-level events are strictly pre-planned. Video footage shows Netanyahu’s security detail treating Dodik as an unauthorized individual attempting to sit next to the prime minister.
Asked to Leave After Arrest Warrant Request
The situation worsened when the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina requested an international arrest warrant for Dodik. Shortly afterward, conference organizers reportedly asked him to leave the event, further undermining his efforts to gain credibility.
Dodik later gave an interview to The Jerusalem Post, a media outlet aligned with Israel’s right-wing establishment. However, the article emphasized that Dodik himself had requested the interview and explicitly referenced international court rulings on the 1995 Srebrenica genocide, highlighting Dodik’s stance as a genocide denier.
A Series of Diplomatic Failures
Dodik’s visit to Israel was seen as an attempt to reach Netanyahu, whom he views as a key link to the U.S. administration. After failing to secure support from Trump’s circle or through Washington lobbying, Dodik hoped that aligning with Israeli leadership would bolster his position.
Instead, his visit exposed his lack of diplomatic standing. His removal from the conference following the arrest warrant request showed that his claims of political persecution hold little weight outside pro-government media in Republika Srpska and Serbia.
