Azerbaijan–Israel relations
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Azerbaijan and Israel have engaged in intense cooperation since 1992.Azerbaijan is one of the few majority Muslim countries besides Turkey, Egypt, Jordan and the former Soviet republics to develop bilateral strategic and economic relations with Israel. In his meeting with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu President Ilham Aliyev praised the active role of Jewish community living in Azerbaijan in developing bilateral relations between the countries.
On October 18, 1991, the declaration of the Parliament of Azerbaijan restored the country's independence, and, in November 1991, Turkey became the first state to formally recognize it. On December 25, 1991, Israel formally recognized the independence of Azerbaijan, becoming one of the first states to do so, and established diplomatic relations with Azerbaijan on April 7, 1992.
According to a 2009 U.S. diplomatic memo, made public through , Azeri president Ilham Aliyev once compared his country's relationship with Israel to an iceberg: "Nine-tenths of it is below the surface."
Azerbaijan was visited by David Harris, executive director of the American Jewish Committee, in July 2010, shortly after the visit of Hillary Clinton to Baku. During the reception, Harris said Azerbaijan presented cultural, strategic and political importance.
Azerbaijan was visited by John Shapiro, executive director of the American Jewish Committee, in January 2017, shortly after the visit of Benjamin Netanyahu to Baku. During the reception, Shapiro said that constructive partnership between Azerbaijan, US and Israel has a big significance.
Visiting Azerbaijan in December 2016 the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: "Relations with Azerbaijan are very close. They will be even better after this visit.".
Azerbaijan is home to some 30,000 Jews, residing primarily in Baku and Qırmızı Qəsəbə settlement in the Quba district of Azerbaijan.Mountain Jews have been living in Azerbaijan for close to 1500 years; they are the descendants of Persian Jews. During the conquest by the Islamic Caliphate, Arabs settled an allied Jewish tribe in the neighborhoods of Baku; in 1730 Jews were officially allowed to put down roots and own property in Quba. There are also nearly 5000 Ashkenazi Jews living mostly in Baku. The first Jewish Sochnut school in the Soviet Union was opened in 1982 in Baku, then capital of Azerbaijan SSR.
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Wikipedia