Israel has established full diplomatic relations with Liechtenstein, the tiny principality high in the Alps between Switzerland and Austria.
Rafael Gvir, Israel’s ambassador to Switzerland, who was just accredited non-resident ambassador to Liechtenstein, presented his credentials to that country’s de-facto ruler, Prince Hans Adam II, at its capital, Vaduz, last week.
Liechtenstein, with an area of 61 square miles and a population of just under 28,000, historically has had no formal diplomatic relations with any country, though it has maintained consulates in Switzerland.
Last month, Liechtenstein joined the European Free Trade Association, an economic confederation of nine smaller countries, Switzerland among them, which is similar to the European Community. That required establishing full diplomatic ties with several European states.
The prince decided to include Israel as well.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
