World
February 2, 2021
OCCUPIED-AL-QUDS: Israel and Kosovo established diplomatic ties on Monday, with the Muslim-majority territory recognising al-Quds as the Jewish state’s capital, putting it at odds with the rest of the Islamic world.
Israel has since August normalised ties with four Arab states under a series of deals brokered by former US president Donald Trump, collectively known as the Abraham Accords. But the majority-Muslim parties to those accords the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan have all said their diplomatic missions will be in Tel Aviv, in line with a global consensus against recognising Jerusalem as Israel’s capital until the Palestinian conflict is resolved.
EU urges Kosovo to rethink Jerusalem move
Jerusalem: the city is holy to both Muslims and Arabs (Photo: Mohammad Usaid Abbasi)
Brussels, 2. Feb, 07:27
The EU foreign service has urged Kosovo to reconsider opening an embassy in Jerusalem, following a digital ceremony with Israel on Monday (1 February). Kosovo has identified EU integration as its strategic priority. The EU expects Kosovo to act in line with this commitment so that its European perspective is not undermined, an EU spokesman said the same day.
Read and decide
Get instant access to all articles and 20 years of archives. 14-day free trial.
Choose your plan
For Kosovo, Israeli recognition trumps EU concerns over Jerusalem embassy
February 2, 2021
Kosovo and Israel sign mutual recognition deal, but the Balkan state’s pledge to open an embassy in Jerusalem risks irking the European Union.
At first glance, Kosovo and Israel have little in common, not least as Kosovo, Europe’s youngest country, is populated predominantly by Muslims.
However, since declaring independence from Serbia in 2008 the state has sought to follow a strictly secular path. Its acting president, Vjosa Osmani, is female, as is the country’s foreign minister, Meliza Haradinaj-Stublla.
It was Ms Haradinaj-Stublla who on February 1 signed an agreement that formally established diplomatic relations between the two countries, in a ceremony which, due to Covid-19 restrictions, was held over Zoom.
World Jewish news includes Kosovo to open Jerusalem embassy - South Florida Sun-Sentinel sun-sentinel.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from sun-sentinel.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Nikola Selakovic speaks during a press conference in Belgrade, Serbia, March 18, 2014 (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
“We have invested serious efforts in our relations with Israel in recent years and we are not happy with this decision,” Serbian Foreign Minister Nikola Selakovic said Tuesday on public broadcaster RTS.
Israel’s move will “undoubtedly influence relations between Serbia and Israel,” he added.
Since establishing ties in 1991, the countries have maintained good relations with growing Israeli investment in the Balkan state.
In a ceremony held over Zoom in Jerusalem and Pristina, Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi and his counterpart from the Republic of Kosovo, Meliza Haradinaj Stublla, on Monday signed a joint declaration establishing ties.