The Philippines and Israel relations have always been warm and friendly. Political, Cultural, Economic, Scientific and Technological cooperation between the two countries continue to prosper.
The year 2007 marks the 50th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the Philippines and Israel. In 1957, the State of Israel and the Republic of the Philippines established full diplomatic relations with the signing of the Treaty of Friendship on 26 Feb 1958. The Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines in Tel Aviv and the Embassy of the State of Israel in Manila were opened in 1962.
Israelis and Filipinos share common democratic values, freedom and civil rights which are manifested in the span of Philippines and Israel bilateral relations.
The Philippines supported the UN Resolution 181 on the partition of Palestine and the Creation of the State of Israel in 1947:
The Philippines was the ONLY Asian country to support the creation of the State of Israel. On 29 November 1947, 33 countries voted in favor of the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 181 creating the State of Israel. The thirty three countries are Australia, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Byelorussian SSR, Canada, Costa Rica, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, France, Guatemala, Haiti, Iceland, Liberia, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Sweden, South Africa, Ukrainian SSR, United States of America, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
On 28 November 2007, the Israeli Parliament (Knesset) honored the thirty three countries which supported the UN General Assembly 181 in celebration of 60th Anniversary of the State of Israel.
The Philippine commitment to this cause is still embedded in our hearts as we co-sponsored the UN resolution to mark 27 January, a yearly commemorative day to honor the victims of the Holocaust.
There are, at present, fourteen major bilateral Agreements between the Philippines and Israel:
Title | Date Signed | Date of Entry into Force |
Air Services Between and Beyond Two Countries | 07 August 1951 | 07 August 1951 |
Treaty of Friendship | 26 February 1958 | 18 December 1963 |
Technical Cooperation in Agriculture | 06 March 1964 | 16 March 1964 |
Cooperation on the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy | 14 January 1969 | 14 January 1969 |
Abolition of Transit and Visitor’s Visa | 10 December 1969 | 01 January 1970 |
Abolition of Visas for Holders of Diplomatic and Service Passport | 14 December 1969 | |
Tourism |
09 May 1988 16 April 1987 (initial) |
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Cultural, Educational and Academic Research | 24 April 1989 | 17 April 1991 |
MOU on Scientific and Technological Cooperation | 26 June 1992 | |
Agreement for the Avoidance of Double Taxation | 09 June 1993 | 26 May 1997 |
Agreement on Technical Cooperation in the Field of Agriculture and Agriculture Related Fields | 06 June 1994 | 30 May 1996 |
MOU on the Establishment of a Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation | 11 February 1997 | 11 February 1997 |
Agreement Concerning Cooperation in the Fields of Posts and Telecommunications | 18 June 1997 | 27 January 1998 |
Agreement on Mutual Assistance in Customs Matters | 23 November 2010 |