Leibovich shows why Israel does not recognise Kosovo

AJC Director in Israel Avital Leibovich has spoken of the future of Kosovo reports Israel.

Leibovich, at Express Interview at KTV, said that the Balkans from Israeli perspective can have strategic meaning, so it has come here, primarily to learn from Israeli-related leaders, and to see how from the American-Hebrew Committee, it can facilitate this report.

I understand that Israel has not yet recognised Kosovo as a whole. Now we may see opportunities to do so in the future. I think, since Kosovo is already involved in many bilateral reports with Serbia, in trying to resolve the situation and achieve the peace treaty, and this is something that can ultimately help the situation dealt with I am not speaking on behalf of the Israeli government, but there is potential between the two countries on different issues, that both countries can benefit”, she said.

Leibovich has spoken more specifically about how co-operation between the two countries can be and whether there is anything more specific.

Look for example to your neighbor, Albania. Israel did not know about Albania until recently, and reports between Albania and Israel are new. And now Kosovo, in this case, is an even more unknown state, but has potential so last summer, before last thousands of Israelis went to Albania as tourists for the first time. This opportunity finally opened up for them, so tourism is something of an opportunity. Economic trade is different. Israel has much to offer in high technology. It's a nation start up. Agriculture, cyber security, water technology, solar technology. There are many options and these possibilities can be shared by many states in the world, including Kosovo”, Leibovich told KTV.

She said on the show she wants to say two things about Jews.

Initially, she says, she met the Jewish community in Kosovo yesterday.

I have to say I really appreciate the way Kosovo and leaders here, and the Government is taking care of and treating the Jewish community that is very small. Yet, they still do much, and that matters to them. As for the fact that their lives were saved, this is already well - known in Israel and highly esteemed. An estimated 1800 Holocaust survivors live in Israel, and in every home you find Holocaust survivors. My father is a survivor, coming from Poland. This is what is highly valued, because the value of human life is the highest value in Israeli tradition”, she said further.

Leibovich, representing the American-Hebrew community in Israel, unlike the largest in the world, has also spoken of the role of this organisation in Kosovo and the region.

This organisation was founded 112 years ago and is a nonpolitical, nongovernmental organisation, and its goal is to cherish and help the welfare of the Jewish community in the world, but also promote national reports between Israel and other states. Could it be trilateral with the U.S., Israel and the other country, or Israel and the other country? BDS) and a very long list of cruise issues and here, since we are not political and government, can help facilitate reports in many ways. Most things aren't done through media, because as you know, in the diplomatic world things are going backstage, and that's how we work in”, she added.

It has even commented on statements in Kosovo media, where there were news in recent years that Kosovo will open an office in Israel.

I think if these rumors are true, then there is great potential. The first impression when I entered Pristina was the large number of young people you have here. You see them everywhere, and you don't see that in other countries. So I understand that one of the challenges you have here is to ensure high-level education that I believe you have achieved. And the second is to try to keep them in place. I think you should look and learn from Israel how it built the top stage, the top tech scene. This is something young people are interested in around the world. So if such an office were opened, it could focus on such matters as these. And, it would be a beneficial situation, because you could bring the message to the young people in Kosovo, and that would encourage them to stay here and not go”, Leibovich said.

He called it a little problematic. However, it could also open the market here for Israeli investments. After all, a new developing country is always looking for investments, and investors look for opportunities. So if that happens, I see it as positive progress and the profitable situation”, it says away.

We remember that there are also some European countries that have not recognised Kosovo, but that have intensive co-operation with our country. This is not the case with Israel. She has shown why this kind of exchange is missing.

I think it's a matter of priorities, I think it's a matter of internal policy in certain cases. Look, my office is in Jerusalem, and every week I see delegations coming to Israel from all over the world, trying to learn from Israeli experience, as well as trying to make connections at different levels. It's like a rotating gate, really, every week. I think that at the end of the day Kosovo must find its way in line with these countries, trying to find their way in. Israel is, too, a small country, something we have in common and at the end of the day I have to set some priorities, but if I'm opening my eyes more and seeing more strategic access to the area, then I see the Balkans an important area for Israel”, she said further at KTV.

Leibovich also had a speech for “Israel's strategic challenges” She has explained to him in brief points what are Israel's challenges.

“With pleasure... where to begin.. There are many challenges, starting from last night where a rocket was launched from Gaza to Israel, and this is something that happens very often. Gaza is controlled by an organisation, unlike the branch of the Muslim Brotherhood, called Hamas, with radical ideology, with that Israel is not the land of Jews, but the land of Hamas and Palestinians, and that Jews should not be there. This is one of the issues. We also have severe clashes at the border, violent clashes at the border. If you go to the northern part of Israel, bordering Lebanon, Syria, unfortunately we've had Iran's influence all over the field, trying to undo the situation, you know, that's why they created Hesbolah. Hesballu today has 120 thousand rockets and they all have common target, which is Israel. And this is another challenge we have to deal with, but I would say the biggest challenge is for Israel, are Iran's intentions to become nuclear power, which is something that Israel cannot tolerate, because it has a direct impact on Israel. But you also hear rhetoric by Iranian leaders, and they always curse Israel and the Jews, and that Israel is something I cannot tolerate. For this also, Israel's army is not only Israel's army, but Israel's Protection Force, since most of the time Israel is protecting the”, Leibovich said.

In the end, reports between Kosovo and Israel have again been returned.

I think I should let the citizens of Kosovo know that first they should be proud of what they have built in the last 10 years, I think we have something in common, that we are new countries, the challenges to the environment, many obstacles on the way to reaching the desired country, and I think there is also a possibility in many issues of co-operation, such as economics, tourism co-operation, that the general impression of Israelis in Kosovo is positive and I think that the Israelis should know that, and that message will be delivered even when I get back there. There are more possibilities than difficulties”, she said.

Leibovich, at the end of Express Interview at KTV, has shown her opinion about why Israel does not recognise Kosovo.

I think this is about priorities, domestic political issues, and reports with several European countries. Kosovo recognition can happen with certain conditions, I think there is potential for this to happen, I think there are many possibilities now that can be used to take steps forward... I'm optimistic”, finishing her Leibovich interview.