Kosovo to open embassy in Jerusalem

Sohail Choudhury

Kosovo has expressed firm willingness in opening its embassy in Jerusalem if the Jewish state recognizes it as an independent state, the president of the Balkan breakaway republic said.

“If Kosovo were recognized by Israel, I would place the Kosovo embassy in Jerusalem,” Hashim Thaci told the Real Story news show Thursday, the Kosova Press agency reported.

Meanwhile a number of countries are considering moving their embassies from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. United States has already shifted its embassy to Jerusalem in September. A number of Muslim nations, including Saudi Arabia are actively considering establishing diplomatic relations with the Jewish State.

Analysts say, by establishing relations friendly nations can immensely benefit from Israel’s advanced technology. Moreover, Israel can be a great partner in defense cooperation. India has recently signed a multi-billion dollar defense agreement with Israel for buying sophisticated defense gear.

Israel is known as a Startup Nation and a large number of Silicon Valley companies are all set in having their establishments in Israeli city named Beer Sheva. According to information, a number of top-ranking Silicon Valley companies already have opened their branched in the Israeli Silicon Valley.

In recent years, Bangladeshi export to Israel is on rise although Dhaka does not have any diplomatic relations with Jerusalem. There is huge prospect for Bangladeshi readymade garments and pharmaceutical products in getting formidable market in Israel.

The United States and dozens of other countries have recognized Kosovo, a Muslim-majority country, as a state since it declared independence from Serbia in 2008. Bangladesh also has recognized Kosovo. But opposition by Russia and China has kept Kosovo from getting United Nations membership.

Israel, Spain, India, Morocco and Ukraine are among the key countries that have not recognized Kosovo, reportedly out of opposition to unilateral declarations of independence — including in territories they control.

Israel under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly urged a number of countries to follow the United States’ example in May and move their embassies to Jerusalem, though so far only Guatemala and Paraguay — which this month returned its embassy to Tel Aviv amid vociferous protests by Israel — have done so.

In June, Czech President Milos Zeman joked during a speech that Benjamin Netanyahu had offered to give up his own home in Jerusalem if the Czech Republic opened an embassy there.