The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs of Albania has condemned the removal of the flag of the embassy of the State of Israel in Tirana on Saturday night during the protest.
Through a reaction on Facebook, the Foreign Ministry has said that this action does not represent Albania nor the Albanian people and contradicts the long Albanian tradition of hospitality.
For three weeks, protests started in Albania to oppose the tourist development projects in the protected areas of Sazan and Zvërnec. The protesters are demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama.
“The Ministry reaffirms Albania’s unwavering commitment to the protection of diplomatic missions and their symbols, in full accordance with international law and the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. We express our solidarity with the Embassy of the State of Israel and emphasize that violence, intimidation and hate speech cannot and will not have a place in a democratic society,” states, among other things, the reaction of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Albania.
The issue of tourism projects in Sazan and Zvërnec has been widely covered by the international media, while environmentalist groups and civil society organizations have expressed concerns about the potential impact on protected areas and the lack of transparency in project development procedures.
The construction project there is related to the son-in-law of the US president, Donald Trump.
The Israeli ambassador after the removal of the flag by the protesters: An act that shames the Albanian people
2 d. ago / 21 Jun 2026 13:54
Israel’s ambassador to Albania, Galit Peleg, reacted after protesters removed the Israeli flag from the embassy in Tirana.
Peleg has declared that he respects the right of citizens to protest, but such an act damages the image of Albania and shames its people.
“As an ambassador of a democratic state, I believe in the right of the Albanian people to exercise their civil right to protest. However, such an action not only does not advance the public protest, but also shames the Albanian people and their proud heritage,” said Peleg.
Peleg also thanked Ferit Hoxha and the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, who, through the reaction on Facebook, condemned the removal and tearing of the Israeli flag from the embassy in Tirana.
