Amid violent riots: Israeli embassy in Albania temporarily closed

The Israeli embassy in Albania was temporarily closed amid violent riots in the capital Tirana against Prime Minister Edi Rama. Thousands of protesters demand his resignation over corruption allegations. The protests escalated into violent clashes with police, using tear gas and water cannons.

The Israeli embassy in Albania announced today (Friday) a temporary closure amid violent riots in the capital Tirana against Prime Minister Edi Rama. The embassy did not set a date for resuming operations and stated that it would be considered based on events. Those in need of urgent consular assistance were directed to an emergency number. Thousands of young people and students have taken to the streets in recent days demanding Rama's resignation over allegations of governmental corruption, neglect of the education system, and high tuition costs. The protests, which began peacefully, escalated into violent clashes with police, during which government buildings and bank branches were set on fire, property was damaged, and police used tear gas and water cannons. The protest expanded to other cities amid public anger over a plan to build a luxury resort on the Albanian coast, seen as a symbol of corruption. Rama rejected calls for his resignation. Meanwhile, there is a noticeable increase in Israeli involvement in Albanian online discourse, with conspiracy theories claiming that flights between Ben Gurion Airport and Albania are used to transport means for dispersing protests. Rama is described as a puppet leader of Netanyahu. Earlier this week, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar visited Tirana to sign agreements on expanding cooperation.