Croatian President Zoran Milanovic has declined to accept the credentials of a newly appointed Israeli ambassador, accusing Israel of violating diplomatic protocol.
Milanovic stated that Israel broke an "unwritten rule" by publicizing the appointment of its ambassador before receiving formal approval from the Croatian presidency. The move has created a diplomatic rift between the two countries.
The Israeli ambassador-designate was announced without prior coordination, which Milanovic described as a breach of established diplomatic practices. The president's office has not yet indicated when or if the appointment might proceed.