28.01.2026 19:42
During his official visit to Israel, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama praised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in his speech at the parliament. While Arab lawmakers protested the speech and left the session, Rama faced backlash in his own country as well.
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, who visited Israel officially and addressed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the parliament with praise, faced backlash.
MAJORITY OF MPs DID NOT ATTEND THE SESSION
During his speech at the special session in the Israeli parliament, it was observed that while Arab MPs boycotted the session, most Israeli MPs did not attend.
Rama stated in his speech that the Israeli parliament is a "very special place" and expressed that he felt a "great honor" to be there, using flattering expressions towards Netanyahu.
PRAISED HIMSELF
Making a joke, Rama said, "If Mossad hasn't informed you yet, I can tell you that my knees are shaking." He expressed excitement about speaking in front of Netanyahu, whom he claimed to be "one of the five best speakers in the world."
Rama also praised himself, saying, "I am the second best speaker in the world after Trump, whom you cannot avoid listening to."
Stating that he is not a Muslim, Rama said, "My wife is Muslim. I am Catholic. My two older children are Christian, Orthodox. Our youngest son, who is eleven years old, will make his own decision one day; however, considering the uncontrollable excitement he felt when it was said that we could make a wish at the Wailing Wall, it is not far-fetched to think that he might choose to be Jewish in the future."
HE BLAMED HAMAS
Rama expressed that this situation is acceptable for them, continuing: "No one can witness this simple truth better than Albania. Being Muslim is not related to being anti-Jewish; on the contrary, this (antisemitism) is the worst betrayal that can be made to God. There can be no greater honor and heavier responsibility than witnessing this truth in the heart of Israel, especially at a time when a new window of opportunity for peace efforts has opened in the heartbreaking war in Gaza, where Palestinian and Israeli families are experiencing unbearable pain."
While Rama did not criticize the genocide that Israel has been carrying out in the Gaza Strip since October 2023, he held Hamas responsible for Gaza becoming an "open-air prison."
Rama argued that no other country in Europe, except Albania, can claim to have such a clean historical page where not a single Jew was handed over to the Nazis.
ARAB MPs LEFT THE PARLIAMENT
Before Rama's speech, Arab MPs from three different parties left the Israeli parliament in a "political boycott." During the speech, it was observed that most of the seats in the Israeli parliament were empty, which was interpreted as "indifference" and "apathy" towards Rama's visit and address.
It was stated that many Israeli Jewish MPs were also absent from the special session held for Rama, alongside the boycotting Arab MPs.
Netanyahu, in his speech, referred to Rama as "a great friend of the Jewish people and Israel" for his support to Israel.
REACTIONS POURED IN FROM HIS COUNTRY
Albanian historian Olsi Jazexhi recalled on his social media account on the US-based X platform that Rama officially invited Israelis to Albania in September 2024, stating that this is clearly an "invitation to colonization."
Jazexhi expressed that Rama has a corruption case against him and claimed that Rama, who does not want to go to prison, was "promised protection by Netanyahu."
Arlind Qori, leader of the Together (Bashke) Movement, criticized Rama's visit to Israel in a video message shared on social media, stating, "A state has not only interests; it also has honor and reputation in international relations. When you lose your honor and reputation, it does not feel difficult to trample on your national interests. Indeed, this government has done this in recent years. Today is a day when Edi Rama has embarrassed us all."
Bashke Movement MP Redi Muçi also stated in a television program that Prime Minister Rama's visit to Israel served his personal interests, reminding that EU countries are boycotting Netanyahu and noting that Rama is doing the exact opposite.
"RAMA'S SPEECH IS A SCANDAL"
Analyst Marlind Laçi stated in the program he participated in that Rama used his visit to Israel in his struggle with the judiciary and aimed to lobby for a visit to the US. Laçi described Rama's speech in the Israeli parliament as a "scandal."
Analyst Fitim Zekthi harshly criticized Rama's visit to Israel in the television program he attended, stating, "Rama should not have gone to Israel. The visit was wrong. Rama's speech was ugly because he did not mention the genocide in Gaza at all."
Meanwhile, a small group carrying Albanian and Palestinian flags reportedly protested Rama's visit to Israel in the capital Tirana, and the police intervened in the demonstration.
On Friday in Albania, a protest is expected to be held against Rama's visit to Israel with the slogan "Not on My Behalf."
PROTESTERS MARCHED TO THE PARLIAMENT
During violent protests held on the evening of January 25 in the capital Tirana, thousands of protesters gathered to demand Prime Minister Rama's resignation, citing his involvement in corruption, and attempted to march to the parliament building.
Protesters demanding Rama's resignation threw Molotov cocktails, fireworks, and smoke bombs at the Prime Ministry building, while the police intervened with tear gas and water cannons.