Allegations that organizations or individuals affiliated with the Zionist movement have aimed to create a Jewish state on Albanian territory are not new. They have resurfaced during the debate over Jared Kushner's investment in Sazan and Zvërnec. These narratives have been accompanied by images generated with Artificial Intelligence, conspiracy theories and interpretations of historical documents.
A image generated with Artificial Intelligence (AI), which began circulating at the end of May of this year, became the cause of major debates in Albania, an image that depicted a metal fence with barbed wire, on which was placed a sign declaring the area as the Zvërnec-Albania border, in Albanian and English, with two flags, one Albanian and the other Israeli.
The image in question appeared after environmentalists denounced first interventions of machinery inside the protected area of Pishe Poro - Nartë, opening roads, carrying out fencing and preparing the ground for the construction of a luxury resort planned by the company of Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of US President Donald Trump, who is of Jewish origin. After the publication of the investment idea, a fake image also circulated on social networks, which was used to promote claims about a connection between the investment and Israel.
That this image was generated with AI was confirmed by the fact-checking platform in Albania, "Check it out".
Protest in Tirana
Since May 30, daily protests have been taking place in Tirana against the planned tourist project by Kushner in Sazan e Zvërnec, demanding its cancellation due to the potential impact on a protected area, where flamingos, seals and sea turtles live.
The company linked to Kushner's planned investments, Sazan Real Estate Development LLC, told Radio Free Europe that it respects all institutional processes, but opponents raise concerns about a lack of transparency and environmental risk. (here)
However, what began as an expression of civic dissatisfaction with the destruction of nature was also accompanied by incidents that shifted the focus away from environmental demands.
Incidents that prompted accusations of anti-Semitism
In one instance during the protest, on June 20, a citizen was seen removing the flag of the State of Israel from the surrounding wall of the "House of Leaves" museum, near the entrance to the "Forever Green" tower, where the Israeli embassy in Tirana is located.
This action was met with reactions from Albanian politics, but also from the Israeli Embassy in Tirana itself (here), who generally condemned it as an act of anti-Semitic character.
Although this case was proven to be true, another image quickly spread on social media showing several masked individuals removing the Israeli flag from the space in front of the embassy.
But this image was proven to be was generated entirely with AI.
The Jewish identity of the investor and conspiracy narratives
The real investor behind the billion-dollar idea in Sazan is Jared Kushner (Donald Trump's son-in-law). Kushner is a practicing Jew and has well-known family, political, and business ties to Israel. On social media, this was used to build narratives that the tourist project hid geopolitical objectives, claims for which no evidence has been presented (here).
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, speaking at a party in Tirana for the 35th anniversary of the founding of the Socialist Party, said that despite the fact that Kushner is of Jewish origin, this should not be related to the investment, as it is not an issue that concerns Albanians.
"Who is the devil who is trying to come between us? Who is trying to leave something behind for our children that we should protect? Who is the devil who is preventing a tourist investment? What does Israel have to do with the investment there in Zvërnec? The two main investors are two Muslim brothers from Qatar. Or that the son-in-law of the US President is Jewish? And then? Can we be so stupid as to throw up what is not thrown up and make fun of the world? We should have strategic relations with everyone," Rama is quoted as saying (here).
Rigels Xhemollari, from the organization Qëndresa Këyetare, rejected the claims of foreign influence, saying that "there are neither Greeks, nor Serbs, nor Israelis, nor agents behind them."
Journalist and analyst Ben Andoni also believes that such claims are exaggerated and that the protest is more the result of accumulated dissatisfaction. (here)
Allegations about the "Israelization" of Albania - where do they come from?
In online media, an interview with Dr. Anna Cohen, a Jew born in Vlora after World War II, has recently been circulating.
Dr. Cohen, in the interview conducted on January 14, 2023, with author Rudina Xhunga, talks about her experiences in Vlora after World War II, but also talks about the history of the Jews who lived in Albania centuries ago.
At one point during the interview, Cohen says that "in 1492, Vlora was 90% Jewish and 10% Albanian."
This statement has resurfaced on social media, attempting to reinforce the conspiracy theory of the "Israelization of Albania".
Mirela Jorgo, a lawyer from Albania, has commented on this theory through a post on Facebook, claiming that she is publishing a letter to Anna Cohen written "by a former classmate of hers in Vlora."
"This is how you are lying... Time for the people of Vlora to wake up to what threatens Vlora and all of Albania. What is undoubtedly the most treacherous act against Albania and national interests is becoming increasingly apparent: the Israelization of Albania," says Ms. Jorgo in her post, where she relates to Ms. Cohen's claim about the number of Jews in Vlora in the distant year, 1492 (here).
It should be noted that Dr. Cohen, in her interview with journalist Xhunga, when talking about the percentage of Jews at that time in Vlora, speaks with conjecture, as she says that she is not sure about the year, but assumes it to be that, i.e. the year 1492.
Hibrid.info has researched to find data on the number of Jewish populations in Vlora, specifically, and in Albania in general, at the time Anna Cohen is talking about.
However, the data for this period, just before and just after it, are unclear. Consequently, no data has been found that can confirm or deny the claims of Ms. Cohen or Ms. Jorgo (here and here).
According to the Israeli media "Haaretz", in an article published in 2024 (here), several locations for an "Israeli state" have been mentioned throughout history.
It mentions one of the most famous proposals, the Uganda Scheme of 1903, which was a British proposal to offer about 13 square kilometers in the Mau Plateau (present-day Kenya) as an autonomous Jewish refuge. But the proposal was ultimately rejected at the 7th Zionist Congress in 1905, which insisted that Palestine was their ancestral homeland.
Locations such as Ararat in New York, Alaska, Australia, Birobidzhan (Russia), Madagascar and Suriname are also mentioned. However, no evidence has been found that an "Israeli state" was being planned to be formed in Albania.
The claim of the "invasion of Albania" by the Zionist organization before World War II
Theories about an Israeli state within Albanian territory began circulating about a century ago.
In September 1935, the Nuremberg Laws were passed in Germany, which stripped Jews of most civil rights and marked a new phase of Nazi persecution.
Consequently, the Consul of the Kingdom of Albania in Vienna at that time, Col. Rrota, warned the Foreign Ministry about the interest of Jewish organizations in emigrating to Albania, which he called an "invasion", and expressed his personal opposition to this possibility (here).
According to archived data from the Albanian Foreign Ministry, concerns about the "Israelization" of Albania had also been raised by the Albanian consul in Thessaloniki.
Based on public documents on the official website of the Albanian MFA, the ministry in question responded to these consuls' concerns, requesting clarification from the then Ministry of National Economy on the conditions under which Israelis could be allowed to come to Albania (here).
But, although there has been much talk, especially the letter from the Albanian consul in Vienna, no evidence has been found of a concrete plan to create a Jewish state on Albanian territory.
A little context:
After the passage of the Nuremberg Laws in 1935, which stripped Jews of their citizenship and basic rights, about half of the Jewish population of Germany and Austria emigrated before the outbreak of World War II. In addition to Albania, they sought refuge mainly in:
United States and the American continent: Many of those with financial means or family connections fled to the United States, although strict immigration quotas made this difficult. Others settled in Latin American countries such as Argentina, Brazil, and Bolivia.
Palestine under the British Mandate: Thousands fled to the Middle East, driven by Zionist movements and the desire to build a new life in the territory that would later become Israel.
Neighboring European countries: Many initially sought safety in nearby countries such as France, the Netherlands, Belgium and Czechoslovakia, but a large number of them were recaptured when Germany expanded its territory during the war.
Other destinations in the world: Fleeing persecution, a significant number found safe haven even in distant places such as Shanghai in China, as well as in South Africa and Australia (more details can be found here). HERE).
"The seizure of Albanian lands by Israel"
Conspiracy theories about the seizure of Albanian lands by Israel or Zionist organizations, at different times, are circulating on various online sites, usually anonymous.
One of them is the one for the year 1923. At least that is what a lawyer from Albania, Zace Islami, stated in an interview for the show "Kojshia Show", says that Albania has been sold to Israel.
"Edi Rama has made an agreement with the Israelis to sell the island of Sazan and the lands of Zvërnec and Darëzeza and all those lands of the Myzeqe plain based on a plan drafted in 1923. This plan, drafted in 1923, was denounced and came from the Albanian consulate in Vienna in 1930, and I have it here, I can show it to you, I can show it to you on the phone, since then this Israeli project to occupy Albanian lands was denounced, World War II happened, here and there, and we have come to where we are today," lawyer Islami said, among other things, in this interview.
Islami, in the interview, does not present any documents that support these claims.
Hibrid.info has requested information on the claims raised by lawyer Zace Islami, especially on the theory of a plan drawn up in 1923 to sell it to Israel. "the island of Sazan and the lands of Zvërnec and Darëzeza and all those lands of the Myzeqe plain".
But, from research and investigations in historical archives, no document has been found to support this claim.
An Israeli journalist, Nir Hasson, through an article published in the media "Haaretz" in 2009, had addressed a historical hypothesis “What if Albania had become the Jewish State?”Hasson in this article is based on a letter from the British-Zionist journalist, Leo Elton, who in 1935 had visited Albania, "to see if it would be possible to create a Jewish national entity there", impressions which he seems to have conveyed to the first president of the Hebrew University, Judah Leib Magnes.
"As a first stage, Elton recommended the creation of a Jewish national unit in Albania, similar to that in British Mandate Palestine, with the cooperation of the two Zionist movements. Later, Albania could even be turned into a Jewish national home."
"It is not known what happened to this idea, whether any official body discussed it, or whether Magnes took the trouble to respond to Elton," writes the Israeli journalist (here).
Journalist Nir Hasson's writing is an analytical article on an idea discussed by certain individuals and does not constitute evidence that any official project for the creation of a Jewish state in Albania existed.
What is known from the facts?
- No evidence has been found of an official plan by Israel or any Zionist organization to create a state on Albanian territory.
- Documents from the 1930s show interest in Jewish emigration to Albania, not in the creation of a state
- There have been individual ideas and discussions about Albania as a place of refuge, but no institutionally approved plans.
- No historical document has been found that proves a state-forming project in Albania.
- Claims linking investment in Sazan to the “Israelization” of Albania are not supported by evidence
Briefing
Historical documents show that in the 1930s there was interest and discussions about the possibility of settling Jewish refugees in Albania, at a time when Nazi persecution was intensifying in Europe.
However, no document has been found to prove the existence of an official plan for the creation of a Jewish state on Albanian territory.
The narratives linking Jared Kushner's investment in Sazan and Zvërnec to claims of the "Israelization" of Albania are based largely on conspiracy theories, incorrect interpretations of historical documents, and manipulated or artificial intelligence-generated material.
The State of Israel was declared on May 14, 1948. For this reason, documents from the 1930s relate to discussions and initiatives of Jewish organizations or individuals, not to policies of a state that did not yet exist at that time.
Albania recognized Israel as a state on April 19, 1949 (here). During the Cold War period (1947–1991), relations between the two countries were limited, as the communist regime of Enver Hoxha maintained close ties with Arab states and had banned the practice of religion in the country (see hereDiplomatic relations between Albania and Israel were officially established on 19 August 1991 (here)