February 3, 2021
Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi, appearing via Zoom, shows off the signed document establishing diplomatic relations between Israel and Kosovo. (Photo courtesy Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
“Virtual diplomacy” just took on a whole new meaning.
On Feb. 1, for the first time in history, two countries have established official ties remotely in this case, during a 28-minute ceremony broadcast via Zoom from two capital cities nearly 1,100 miles apart.
It was never meant to happen like this. The predominantly Jewish State of Israel and the Muslim-majority Republic of Kosovo following several years of quiet negotiations and long delays had intended to inaugurate their relationship last month at an actual event in Jerusalem, complete with speeches, actual handshakes and toasts over glasses of Albanian raki and kosher wine.