Kosovo normalizes ties with ‘Israel’; will open embassy in Jerusalem

‘Israel’ and Kosovo have formally normalized ties on Monday, recognizing Jerusalem as the occupation state capital and promising to open an embassy.
In a ceremony held over Zoom in Jerusalem and Pristina, Israeli FM Gabi Ashkenazi and Kosovan FM Meliza Haradinaj Stublla, signed a joint declaration establishing ties, due to the COVID-19 travel restrictions.
The ceremony was broadcast live on Israeli Foreign Ministry’s Facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/IsraelMFA/videos/160840432299606/
https://www.facebook.com/101995411316/posts/10158132247676317/
Ashkenazi said he had approved Kosovo’s “formal request to open an embassy in Jerusalem.”
“The establishment of relations between ‘Israel’ and Kosovo is an important and moving historical step that reflects the many changes the region has experienced in recent months,” Ashkenazi stated.
“Today, Kosovo officially joins the circle of countries that aspire to peace and stability and recognize ‘Israel’, and Jerusalem as its capital.”
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Minister @MelizaHaradinaj and I just signed an agreement establishing diplomatic relations between Kosovo and Israel and we unveiled the sign that will hang at the entrance to the Kosovo embassy in Jerusalem, the capital of Israel. pic.twitter.com/cj2F4TAb2r— גבי אשכנזי – Gabi Ashkenazi (@Gabi_Ashkenazi) February 1, 2021
“This agreement is an important and exciting step in the relations between us.
In our conversation, the Foreign Minister emphasized Kosovo’s commitment to recognizing #Hezbollah as a terrorist organization and shared with me their program to promote the memory of the Holocaust care for Jewish cemeteries and the opening of a Jewish cultural center this year,” Ashkenazi tweeted.
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This agreement is an important and exciting step in the relations between us.
In our conversation, the Foreign Minister emphasized Kosovo's commitment to recognizing #Hezbollah as a terrorist organization and shared with me their program to promote the memory of the Holocaust pic.twitter.com/VBZt9AFspt— גבי אשכנזי – Gabi Ashkenazi (@Gabi_Ashkenazi) February 1, 2021
The decision to normalize ties was announced last September at a summit of Kosovo-Serbia leaders at the White House in the presence of former U.S. president Donald Trump.
President @realDonaldTrump bringing PEACE to countries around the world!
Serbia and Kosovo have agreed to economic normalization!
Kosovo will also recognize Israel and Serbia will move their embassy to Jerusalem!pic.twitter.com/B4q002K6n3
— Students For Trump (@TrumpStudents) September 4, 2020
"One of the side benefits of the normalization of economic ties between Serbia and Kosovo was the establishment of diplomatic relations between Kosovo, a majority Muslim state, and the state of Israel." pic.twitter.com/BGriiRGotp
— The White House 45 Archived (@WhiteHouse45) September 4, 2020
“I thank the United States for its efforts to advance world peace, and to advance Israel’s relations with countries that we did not have diplomatic relations with until recently,” Ashkenazi said Monday.
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care for Jewish cemeteries and the opening of a Jewish cultural center this year.I thank the United States for its efforts to promote peace, and Israel's relations with countries with which we have not had diplomatic relations until recently. pic.twitter.com/CslmdbkiVn
— גבי אשכנזי – Gabi Ashkenazi (@Gabi_Ashkenazi) February 1, 2021
‘Israel’ also normalized ties with the UAE last September, a move that was followed by Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco.
Palestinians condemned the normalization agreements, saying they encouraged Israel’s denial of their rights and do not serve the Palestinian cause.