72 years of friendly relations between the State of Israel and the Republic of the Union of Myanmar
The State of Israel and the Republic of the Union of Myanmar achieved independence from Great Britain in 1948 and established diplomatic relations shortly later in 1953, marking 72 years of friendship in 2025. To date, there have been 25 Israeli Ambassadors to Myanmar, and 20 Myanmar Ambassadors to Israel. Current HoM of Embassy of Israel to Myanmar is Amb. Ruth Zakh.
Myanmar was the first country in Southeast Asia that recognized Israel as an independent state, as diplomatic relations between the two countries were established at the beginning of the 50’s. The Burmese visit of Head of State U Nu to Tel-Aviv was the first official visit to the young Israel.
Bilateral cooperation has developed in various fields of endeavor, including education, agriculture, health, and economy. Under the sponsorship of MASHAV, the Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation, and through other channels, many from Myanmar have visited Israel for study tours as well as for training programs. Moreover, numerous “on-the-spot” courses in Myanmar have been conducted in collaboration with Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, Commerce and Science and Technology as well as International NGOs like UNDP.
The countries established diplomatic relations in 1953, marking 72 years of friendship in 2025.
In the years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the two countries have nurtured a strong bond of friendship, which have included visits of high level officials from both countries.
U Nu was the first foreign Prime Minister to visit the newly independent State of Israel in 1955.
David Ben Gurion (Israel’s first Prime Minister) spent one of the longest official trips abroad for an Israeli Prime Minister, with a two-week sojourn 1961, which included also studies in Buddhism. Among the other landmark visits from Israel warrant mentioning are those of President Yitzhak Ben-Zvi and Foreign Ministers Moshe Sharett, Golda Meir, Abba Eban, Moshe Dayan and Shimon Peres.
Cooperation between the two countries has always been wide in the education sector as well. A trilateral academic cooperation has been formed between the Israeli Embassy, the Myanmar Ministry of Education, and non-governmental organizations like UNICEF, in order to deal with issues of early childhood education, like naturalistic language enrichment.
Since 1994, successful ongoing collaboration in the fields of agriculture and livestock is taking place in cooperation with AICAT (Arava International Center for Agricultural Training) and the Granot Agro-Studies Group and later also with the Ramat Negev Agro Research Centre.
During this period, the number of Myanmar trainees that have participated in the program and have experienced training in Israel is well over one thousand five hundred. The trainees from Myanmar are introduced to modern methods of irrigation; growing vegetables, fruits, and flowers, and livestock breeding by means of computers and advanced technologies in cooperation with Israeli farmers.
Nargis was the first tropical cyclone and the fifth-deadliest cyclone of all time to strike the country, Myanmar in 2008.
After Cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar, the Israeli government and people expressed their condolences to the victims, and made the following donations:
1) A cargo of 8 tons of medical supplies was sent by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Israel and the JOINT (American – Jewish Joint Distribution Committee), and was donated to the victims through Malteser International.
2) A cargo of more than 2 tons of food and shelter supplies was sent by “Latet” (which means “to give”) – a humanitarian Israeli organization.
Israel is also participating in other rehabilitation projects of several villages in the delta region.
A historical photo exhibition that was arrived in 2008 illustrates the first years of relations between The State of Israel and The Republic of the Union of Myanmar.
It acknowledges and pays homage to all the many people who have contributed to the good relations over the course of these years.
In 2011, there is a great potential for developing economic ties and for expanding the extent of bilateral trade.
H.E. Deputy Minister for Commerce Dr. Pwint San had attended WATEC Israel 2011 conference with Myanmar Delegation from Republic of the Union of Myanmar Federation Chamber of Commerce (RUMFCCI) which signed MOU with Federation of Israeli Chambers of Commerce (FICC).
Companies from the two countries can look into opportunities for doing business, and such cooperation already exists, for example, in the fields of livestock and fisheries, and information technology.
In 2013, H.E. U Myint Swe and H.E. U Ye Myint, Chief Ministers from Yangon and Mandalay Region Governments visited Israel WATEC exhibition which was held every two years, and water "pilgrims" come from all corners of the globe to learn about Israeli ingenuity in desalination, drip irrigation, gray-water recycling, water metering and management at the WATEC event in Tel Aviv.
H.E. Dr. Daw Khin San Yee, Deputy Minister for National Planning and Economic Development of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar attended the “International Women Leaders’ Conference” from November 3 to 8, 2013 in Haifa, Israel by focusing on the subject of the centrality of gender equality and women’s empowerment in formulating the next sustainable development goals agenda of the U.N.
On October 2014 in the DICA office in Yangon, the Israeli Ambassador to Myanmar, H.E Hagay M. BEHAR and DICA D.G., H.E U Aung Naing Oo, sign an agreement for Reciprocal Promotion and Protecting of Investments.
From Israel, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs. H.E. Tzachi Hanegbi visited Myanmar in 2014 and during his visit; the draft agreement for the cooperation between the State of Israel and Republic of the Union of Myanmar in the fields of Culture and Sports was signed in the Ministry of Culture.
In 2015, H.E. Deputy Minister for Ministry of Agriculture, U Khin Zaw and delegation led by H.E. U Myint Than, Minister for Agriculture and Livestock, Mandalay Region participated in Agritech Israel.
Again in 2015, H.E. U Hla Myint , Mayor of Yangon joined Israel WATEC exhibition.
Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, Commander in Chief of the Defense Forces also made an official visit to Israel in 2015.
Israeli Agriculture & Rural Development Minister, H.E.Yair Shamir also visited Myanmar and met his counterpart Minister ,H.E. U Myint Hlaing in 2015.
During the flood in Myanmar, The Embassy of Israel also assisted one of flood affected areas of Bago Region, Tharyarwaddy Township to donate dry noodles, hygiene kit, impregnated bed nets and medicines for the flood victims on 7th August 2015.
The Embassy planned to donate 14,000 US dollar for the flood victims of Myanmar and part of the amount will continue to be used in the rehabilitation of the flood victims.
Another milestone for the diplomatic relations between Myanmar and Israel is the signing ceremony for the “Agreement between the Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and the Government of the State of Israel on Visa Exemption for the holders of Diplomatic and Official Passports” which was held on 12th of June 2017 at Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nay Pyi Taw.
This agreement was made to facilitate smooth and easier travel procedures for the holders of diplomatic and official passports and signed by U Kyaw Zeya, Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Mr. Daniel Zonshine, Ambassador of Israel.
Chief Minister of Mandalay Region, H.E. Dr. Zaw Myint Maung participated in Agritech Israel which has taken place in Tel Aviv Convention Center, Israel from 8th to 10th of May 2018.
Chief Minister has led an official delegation to Israel with H.E. U Soe Than, Minister for Agriculture and Livestock of Mandalay Region and U Kyin Maung of Mandalay Region Manager for Department of Agriculture.
The official delegation was invited by Israeli's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Israel Export & International Cooperation Institute.
During the conference, Chief Minister participated in the panel discussion of family farming combating the desert with the topic " Challenges that are characteristics to Mandalay Region" .
During the visit, the delegation observed organic farming, Water treatment and Irrigation and smart city program and also visited farms, green houses and R& D centre in Dry Zone.
He and the delegation went and met with Myanmar students who were studying in Ramat Negev Centre for Advance Agriculture in the Southern Israel.
As part of the bilateral cooperation between Myanmar and Israel; an official delegation led by H.E. Dr. Myo Thein Gyi, Union Minister for Education of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, is visiting Israel from 28th to 30th of May 2018.
This official delegation is invited by H.E. Mr. Ofir Akunis, Minister for Science and Technology of the State of Israel for an “International Ministerial Conference –Thinking out of the box- Celebrating 70 years of Scientific Innovation in the Service of Humanity” which has taken place in Jerusalem, Israel.
During the visit, Union Minister Dr. Myo Thein Gyi attended the signing ceremony of an “Agreement between the Government of the State of Israel and the Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar on Cooperation in the Field of Education”.
The agreement was signed by Israel Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ms. Tzipi Hotovely and Myanmar Ambassador to Israel H.E. U Maung Maung Lynn at the presence of H.E. Dr. Myo Thein Gyi, Union Minister for Education in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Israel.
The agreement will enable exchange of scholars, researchers, students and lecturers between the two countries, exchange of learning materials, knowhow and methodology, mutual participation in educational events and more.
It is part of the long lasting diplomatic relations and friendship between Myanmar and Israel.
On 4th July 2018, Union Minister for the Office of the State Counsellor U Kyaw Tint Swe met with the Minister for Communications of the State of Israel, Mr. Ayoob Kara, during his official visit to Israel and discussed matters on strengthening of bilateral relations and exchange of high levels visits, promotion of cooperation between the two countries.
During the visit, Union Minister also held talks with Mr. Michael Oren, Deputy Minister of the Prime Minister's Office and Maj. Gen(Rtd) Mr. Amos Yadlin, Executive Director of the Institute of National Security Studies (INSS) respectively and discussed matters of mutual interest.
During his visit to Israel, Union Minister was accompanied by U Soe Han, Director General of Political Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Myanmar.
The embassy of Israel contributed generous and timely contribution of USD 18,000 towards World Food Programme, WFP’s emergency food security response in Yangon region, Myanmar on 4th June, 2021.
This contribution will enable WFP to purchase 28 MT of rice to provide essential food assistance to the most vulnerable people in Yangon region, who had already been suffering from the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and are increasingly being pushed to the brink. Food rations will be delivered directly into the hands of vulnerable families as part of WFP‘s news support for up to 2 million people in the poorest urban townships.
On 11 Aug 2021, the embassy of Israel in Myanmar donated 4 portable advanced medicals ventilators for Covid patients to the General Hospital of the City of Pathein, in the Ayeyarwady Region of Myanmar.
The President of the Hospital, Dr. Kyaw Zin, came to the Embassy to collect the donation due to the restrictions of Covid by the Ministry of Health, together with our excellent friends of Ayeyar Hinthar Holdings Company Limited that develop the significant historical Great City of Pathein.
For MITV news for the Embassy of Israel's donation for Covid patients to the Pathein General Hospital please CLICK HERE.
Today, August 14th, 2024, the Embassy of Israel in Yangon launched a meaningful project with love and aimed at helping Burmese orphans from Chin State.
In this initiative, we are helping building an orphanage in Yangon, using paints donated by the Kibbutz Nir-Oz paint factory from Nirlat. This same kibbutz suffered immense tragedy during the October 7th massacre, where a quarter of its members were brutally killed by Hamas, the Bibas babies kidnapped, and the factory set ablaze.
While Israel continues to grieve deeply, our compassion drives us to extend help to those in need. From Israeli orphans to Myanmar orphans, we are united in tribute to Burmese Buddhist generosity and to Jewish Tikun Olam (making the world a better place), through this embassy’s efforts. As part of the project, we will recreate the artwork of Israeli artist Or Yogev on the building’s walls, accompanied by the heartfelt prayer of bring the hostages home.
From faraway Yangon, we remember and miss the Bibas baby brothers and all those suffering, as we build a symbol of hope and resilience.
Typhoon Yagi has brought devastating impacts to Myanmar, affecting nine states and regions, including Southern and Eastern Shan, Kayah, Mandalay, Naypyidaw, Magway, Kayin, Bago, and Mon. From September 8 to 12, the storm triggered severe floods and landslides, leaving behind unimaginable destruction.
Entire villages were wrecked, and over 226 lives have been tragically lost. More than 631,000 people are affected, with an estimated 320,000 displaced and relocate to temporary camps that are facing challenges such as overcrowding and limited access to water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities.
The Embassy of Israel in Yangon is standing with the people of Myanmar during this difficult time. Our hearts go out to all those innocent lives affected by this tragedy. We will be making a small food donation to those affected by this natural disaster. Let this be our very small contribution to the relief efforts.
Saluting the famous Burmese generosity and in spirit of Jewish “Tikun Olam”: When you yourself are in darkness, light a candle for someone else.
Today September 10th, 2024, the Embassy of Israel in Yangon provided essential resources, including laptops, dental care for 20 youths, and feminine hygiene products to the Step-In Step-Up Youth Training Center. While Israel faces its own struggles, with civilians enduring the effects of a ongoing war, these efforts aim to foster hope and support for communities far from home.
From supporting Israeli orphans to extending compassion to their counterparts in Myanmar, this mission is a testament to the spirit of Tikun Olam—making the world a better place. It highlights the deep appreciation for Burmese Buddhist generosity and the universal commitment to humanitarianism. We stand firm against the forces of destruction, exemplified by groups like Hamas, and strive to make a difference in the lives of those affected by conflict.
We also extend our gratitude to the ambassadors of the Vatican, New Zealand, and the spouse of the Finnish ambassador for visiting this wonderful center, further amplifying our shared commitment to kindness and support.
Earlier this morning October 7th 2024, the Israeli Embassy in Yangon, alongside H.E. Holy See Head of Mission, held a poignant prayer service to commemorate the one-year of the tragic October 7th massacre. The congregation gathered to light yellow candles, symbolizing hope and solidarity for the release of Brother Bibas. The Holy See Ambassador also honored the memory of Mosheridla, a Holocaust survivor whose life was cut short by the violence of Hamas.
In a meaningful gesture of remembrance, the Israeli Embassy, in collaboration with the Yangon Municipal Corporation, planted a mango tree—representing the beauty of life that can no longer flourish for those young Israelis who were taken too soon. We honor the memories of those from Beeri, Nahal Oz, Nir Oz, Reim, and other communities affected by this senseless tragedy.
As we reflect on these losses, we remain steadfast in our prayers for the safe return of all hostages, holding onto hope amidst sorrow.
Today November 6, 2024, a Hydrotherapy Trampoline was donated with love by Ambassador Irit Lilia, on behalf of the Embassy of Israel in Yangon, to the children of the Marvelous Flowers Future Recreation Center.
This heartfelt donation is donated in memory of Ruth, a disabled young girl, and her father, Arik Peretz, who were tragically killed by Hamas during the October 7th massacre at the Nova Festival.
The trampoline will provide therapeutic support and joy to the children, honoring the memory of Ruth and Arik.
The Embassy of Israel is pleased to contribute to this meaningful cause, bringing a ray of hope in the face of such profound loss. Our thoughts and hearts are with the victims and their families as we remember those we have lost.
We hope this small act of kindness brings comfort to the children and the community.