Israel–Kosovo relations

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Israeli-Kosovo relations

Israel
Kosovo

Israel–Kosovo relations refer to bilateral relations between Israel and Kosovo[lower-alpha 1]. Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia on 17 February 2008. Israel and Kosovo formally recognized each other on 4 September 2020, when it was announced by President of the United States, Donald Trump, that Israel and Kosovo had recognized each other and that diplomatic relations would be established between the two states.[1]

Country comparison

Kosovo Israel
Flag Kosovo Israel
Population 1,920,079 (2017) 8,904,280 (2018)
Area 10,908 km2 (4,212 sq mi) 20,770 km2 (8,019 sq mi)
Population density 159/km2 (412/sq mi) 403/km2 (1,044/sq mi)
Capital Pristina Jerusalem
Largest city Pristina 204,725
(477,312 Metro)		 Jerusalem 901,302
(1,253,900 Metro)
Largest metro area Pristina (477,312) Tel Aviv-Yafo (3,854,000)
Government Parliamentary republic Parliamentary republic
First head of state Mehmed Hoxha (de facto)
Ibrahim Edhem Pasha (de jure)		 David Ben Gurion
Current head of state Hashim Thaçi Reuven Rivlin
Official language Albanian and Serbian Hebrew
Main religions[citation needed] 88.64% Muslim
10.4% Christian
0.33% Other/None		 75.4% Jews
20.89% Muslim
7.8% others
Ethnic groups 92.9% Albanians
1.6% Bosniaks
1.5% Serbs
1.1% Turks
0.9% Ashkali
0.6% Gorani
0.5% Romani		 75.4% Jews
20.6% Arab
4.1% others
GDP (nominal) US$21 billion ($11,019 per capita) US$305 billion ($38,004 per capita)
Military expenditures $108.2 million (0.9% of GDP) $23.2 billion (7.6% of GDP)
Military troops 6,000 176,500
English speakers 49% 85%
Labor forces 483,200 4,198,000

Political relations

Israel was reluctant to recognize Kosovo's independence. An Israeli Foreign Ministry official quoted by The Jerusalem Post said in February 2008: "We haven't decided when we're going to decide, and instead will monitor events and consider the issue." [2]

According to the Jewish Chronicle, Foreign Ministry officials and politicians were privately voicing a general sympathy towards the Kosovar cause, however, Israel would still not recognize Kosovo.[3] Knesset member Ruhama Avraham Balila said in February 2008 that "at present the government of Israel has made [the] decision not to join the group of countries which recognised the independence of Kosovo." She also said that Israel considers the situation "very disturbing."[4]

On 28 April 2009, Arthur Koll, the Israeli ambassador to Serbia, said that though it had been more than a year since Kosovo unilaterally declared independence, Israel had no intention of recognizing the declaration, and that "Israel is asked from time to time how solid this decision is, but the fact is that Israel's position has not changed throughout this time. The Serbian people and government should appreciate Israel's position, which also demonstrates the friendship between the two states."[5][6]

On 16 September 2009, Israeli foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman said that Israel is "monitoring the situation between Serbia and Kosovo" and that Israel hopes for "a really comprehensive and peaceful solution" which would be established through negotiations between the two involved states. Lieberman also said that Israel would be able to withstand pressure to recognize Kosovo because Israel has "been under pressure since 1948 on many issues and we know how to deal with any pressure."[7] During a visit to Israel in late October 2009, Serbian Interior Minister Ivica Dačić, said that "Israeli officials have confirmed that Israel will remain firm in its stand [on Kosovo]."[8]

In June 2011, Lieberman said that Kosovo's independence is a "sensitive issue" and that Israel may recognize Kosovo after other countries like Greece and Spain accept it.[9]

In 2011, Serbia voted to recognize Palestine as UNESCO's 195th member, against Israel's wishes. Belgrade declared that it would not have opposed a resolution recognizing Palestinian sovereignty, had one come before the UN General Assembly.[10]

The State of Israel and the Republic of Kosovo recognized each other as independent sovereign states on 4 September 2020 and have agreed to establish formal diplomatic relations.[1][11][12][13][14][15] In addition, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mentioned that "Kosovo will be the first country with a Muslim majority to open an embassy in Jerusalem".[12]

See also

Notes

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References

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  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Serbia to move embassy to Jerusalem; mostly Muslim Kosovo to recognize Israel, The Times of Israel, 2020-04-09
  2. ↑ Israel won't recognize Kosovo, for now, The Jerusalem Post, 2008-02-19
  3. ↑ Israel breaks ranks on Kosovo Archived 17 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine, 2008-02-21, The Jewish Chronicle
  4. ↑ Израиль пока не намерен признавать независимость Косово, 2008-02-19, RIA Novosti (in Russian)
  5. ↑ "Israeli position on Kosovo firm" Archived 7 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine, B92.net, 2009-04-28
  6. ↑ Izrael ne menja stav o nezavisnosti Kosova, 2009-04-28, RTS (in Serbian)
  7. ↑ Press conference with FM Liberman in Belgrade, 2009-09-16, Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  8. ↑ "Israel firm in refusing to recognize Kosovo" Archived 3 November 2009 at the Wayback Machine, B92, 2009-10-28
  9. ↑ Israeli will recognize Kosovo after Spain and Greece, says FM Archived 1 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine, AlbanianEconomy.com, 2011-06-28
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ https://mfa.gov.il/MFA/PressRoom/2020/Pages/Serbian-embassy-to-relocate-to-Jerusalem-5-September-2020.aspx
  14. ↑ https://twitter.com/IsraeliPM/status/1302313140802252808
  15. ↑ https://twitter.com/MelizaHaradinaj/status/1301954419278450689
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