Morton Klein Urges U.S. State Department to Demand Protection of Jews, Continued Relations With Israel and Respect for Democracy
The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) and its National President, Morton A. Klein, strongly condemn the October 28 terrorist attack outside Israel’s embassy in Belgrade and express grave concern over Serbia’s political future following the electoral defeat of the longtime government associated with President Aleksandar Vučić.
ZOA urges Serbia’s victorious opposition to reject antisemitism, anti-Israel extremism, political intimidation and mob rule, and calls upon the U.S. State Department to demand a peaceful, democratic transition that respects the rule of law.
Shortly after midnight on October 28, a knife-wielding assailant attacked a Serbian Gendarmerie officer guarding Israel’s embassy in Belgrade.
According to Serbian Interior Minister Ivica Dačić, the attacker, described as a minor believed to be from Šabac, shouted “Allahu Akbar,” frequently screamed by Muslims before a terrorist attack (“Allah is the greatest G-D”), while approaching the security booth armed with two knives.
Serbian prosecutors reported that the attacker threw a knife, striking the officer’s left cheek. The officer returned fire, killing the assailant in self-defense. No Israeli embassy personnel were injured.
Dačić declared the incident a radical Islamic terrorist attack and raised Serbia’s terrorism alert to its highest level. Authorities reported that the assailant was an Islamic State supporter.
In June 2024, another Islamist extremist attacked an officer guarding the same embassy with a crossbow, seriously wounding him before being killed.
Although authorities have identified suspected Islamist extremist motives, they have not established a connection between the latest attacker and Serbia’s political opposition.
Under Vučić, Serbia maintained strong diplomatic and strategic relations with Israel.
ZOA is deeply concerned that anti-Israel and anti-Zionist elements within Serbia’s broader opposition movement could jeopardize this relationship, particularly amid calls to isolate the Jewish State of Israel over the Palestinian conflict.
ZOA urges the incoming government to reject the unruly protests and attacks that we are witnessing in the wake of the election.
ZOA also urges the new government not to sever diplomatic relations with Israel and to unequivocally oppose antisemitism, anti-Jewish violence and the demonization of the Jewish state.
ZOA Warns Against Mob Rule and Political Revenge
Serbia’s October 25 election brought victory to an opposition movement that emerged from protests against corruption and the previous government.
ZOA respects the Serbian people’s democratic right to elect new leaders.
However, political victory cannot justify intimidation, retaliation, politically motivated mass firings or attacks against former government officials.
Any such actions would represent dangerous warning signs of democratic backsliding and potentially greater instability in the coming months.
ZOA National President Morton A. Klein stated:
“The Zionist Organization of America is horrified by another radical Islamic terrorist attack against the Jewish State of Israel’s embassy in Serbia. We thank the courageous Serbian officer who prevented further bloodshed. Two attacks against Israel’s embassy in just over two years demonstrate the very real danger posed by Islamist terrorism and hatred of the Jewish state.
“We are deeply concerned about Serbia’s future. Under President Vučić, Serbia maintained important diplomatic and strategic ties with Israel and demonstrated solidarity following Hamas’s horrific October 7 massacre.
“Serbia’s new leaders must not allow anti-Israel extremists, antisemites or violent agitators to dictate government policy or destroy this valuable relationship.
“Democracy does not mean mob rule. Winning an election does not give anyone the right to intimidate political opponents, conduct politically motivated mass firings, attack former officials or replace the rule of law with political vengeance.
“The United States State Department must take a strong, unequivocal position that America will not tolerate mob rule, antisemitic violence, political persecution or the destruction of democratic institutions.
“Washington must insist that Serbia’s new government protect its Jewish community, safeguard Israeli diplomats, maintain diplomatic relations with Israel and guarantee a peaceful, lawful democratic transition.
“Serbia’s new leadership faces a critical choice: uphold democracy, religious tolerance and friendship with Israel, or allow extremism and political revenge to undermine its country’s future. The United States must make clear that the world is watching.”
ZOA Calls for Immediate U.S. Action
ZOA urges the State Department, U.S. Embassy in Belgrade and European allies to closely monitor Serbia’s transition, demand protection for Jewish institutions and Israeli diplomats, oppose politically motivated retaliation and insist that Serbia preserve its democratic institutions and longstanding relationship with Israel.
Serbia’s new government must demonstrate that electoral victory means democratic responsibility—not mob rule, antisemitism or political revenge.
We urge President Trump to monitor the developments in Serbia carefully and if mob rule threatens democratic institutions, to move aggressively in placing severe economic and other sanctions on Belgrade.