The Czech Republic has been one of the most pro-Israeli countries in the EU. Middle-sized country with not always very clear foreign policy agenda, the Czech pro-Israeli position remains to be one of the few stable features of its foreign policy. The Czech politicians repeatedly support Israel in the time when the Jewish state is facing a strong international pressure and criticism. Diplomats, both in the Czech Republic and Israel, consider the mutual relations to be strong and friendly. The Czech diplomats would not hesitate to call them special. In my paper I will present the analysis of the roots of the Czech’s “special relationships” towards Israel. In my paper I will argue that the Czech position is driven by material interests, as well as ideas and political culture. I will further claim that it is mainly the legacy of history which is behind the Czech position. I will identify key events of the past which have both direct and indirect impact on temporal position. Principles and values of pre-WWII Czechoslovakia, trauma of the Munich agreement, and the legacy of Communism are among the key factors which have contributed to the Czech foreign policy towards Israel today; the policy which was in its broad contours formulated shortly after the fall of Communism in 1989. In my paper I will present a methodological framework applicable to the analysis of foreign policies towards Israel of other Central European countries which share with the Czech Republic some of the historical legacies.
