The President of Republika Srpska (RS), Milorad Dodik, visited Israel despite an arrest warrant being issued against him, and during his visit, he gave interviews to Israeli media. In one of the conversations, he compared himself to Benjamin Netanyahu and said that he is inspired by the determination Israel demonstrates.
Dodik said that there are many similarities between his country and Israel, as well as between himself and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In his response to Israeli media, he drew some parallels.
“There are many. Both of our peoples face constant attempts to deny them the right to exist and make independent decisions. Both Prime Minister Netanyahu and I are being targeted – not because we have done something wrong, but because we refuse to back down. When they cannot defeat you in elections, they try to remove you in other ways,” Dodik said.
Dodik arrived in Israel this week to attend the International Conference on Combating Antisemitism and to express solidarity. Ahead of the conference, he spoke about his “unwavering support for Israel,” which he also called a “country whose strength, history, and determination he deeply respects.”
When asked about the separatist laws passed in the National Assembly of RS (NARS) after the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) issued a first-instance guilty verdict against him, Dodik said: “I will not step down. Only the people have the right to decide who leads them – not foreign judges and rigged trials.”
“A political court issues political verdicts. By weaponizing the judiciary in Sarajevo, they are trying to achieve through the courts what they cannot – removing Milorad Dodik from politics. I will not step down. My response is clear: I am moving forward, I am going to Israel, I am going to friends, and I can defend the interests of the people who elected me anywhere. Only the people have the right to decide who leads them – not foreign judges and rigged trials,” he stated.
He was also asked why he chose to visit Israel at this particular moment.
“Because I believe that true friends are revealed in difficult times. Israel is going through serious challenges, but it is showing determination that inspires me. I came to send a message of support to people who know what it means to fight for their freedom. And to affirm that RS understands and respects that struggle, as we have been fighting our own for more than three decades,” he said.
He emphasized that his support for Israel is his sincere belief, not a political maneuver and that he supports Israel because he believes in the right of nations to make their own decisions.
During his trip, Dodik visited Yad Vashem, met with Israeli leaders, and toured the southern part of the country. After meeting with farmer Avida Bachar, who lost his wife Dana, his 15-year-old son Carmel, and one of his legs in the October 7th massacre, Dodik expressed concern for the fate of the Serbian-Israeli hostage Alon Ohel (24), who remains in Hamas captivity.
During a visit to the Nova Music Festival memorial, Dodik and his entourage witnessed the Iron Dome intercept a rocket from Gaza directly above their heads, Klix.ba writes.
