Czech news in brief for May 15: Friday's top morning headlines

The Herzl Center for Israel Studies said on Thursday that support for Israel in Czechia has remained largely unchanged during more than two years of war in Gaza. One-third of surveyed respondents approved of Israel’s military operation in Gaza, while about 40 percent disapproved. The survey, conducted between 2023 and 2025, found younger people and women tended to be more critical of Israel, while older people and men expressed greater support.

Sudeten German Association leader Bernd Posselt told CTK on Wednesday that a Czech lower house resolution opposing the Sudeten German congress in Brno was “a farce” and “a caricature of parliamentarianism.” The Chamber of Deputies approved the resolution earlier that day and called on organisers to cancel the event. Posselt said the congress, scheduled for May 22–25 in Brno as part of the Meeting Brno festival, would proceed despite the parliamentary vote.

The Finance Ministry began offering three types of government bonds to the public on Thursday, Finance Minister Alena Schillerová said at a briefing. The bonds include five-year fixed, five-year anti-inflationary, and three-month options with differing yields. The subscription period for the first Republic Bond issue runs until June 28, with issuance scheduled for July 15. Schillerová said the ministry expects sales of around CZK 20 billion and reported CZK 1.5 billion in orders by Thursday evening.

Police announced on Wednesday that officers arrested a 35-year-old man in Central Bohemia on suspicion of stealing the skull of Saint Zdislava from a basilica in Jablonne v Podjestedi, North Bohemia. According to police statements on X, investigators also obtained information about the relic’s location before the suspect could carry out his plan. The skull, described as having incalculable historical value, was stolen on Tuesday evening during preparations for a church service.

Czech singer Daniel Žižka advanced to the final of the Eurovision Song Contest on Thursday after performing his song Crossroads in the second semi-final in Vienna. He qualified alongside representatives from nine other countries for Saturday’s final. According to the article, Žižka said in a March interview with ČT24 that he had spent about two years preparing the song, which he co-wrote with producer Viliam Béreš.