This is expected to be Kosovo's first ambassador to Israel

“, led by the common will to promote and strengthen friendly ties, as well as enhance the horizons of co-operation between the two countries and based on the universal principles of international law; reaffirming the shared commitment to strengthen fruitful co-operation in the political, economic, trade, technical and cultural spheres of common interest, (Kosovo and Israel) have decided to establish diplomatic relations at the level of ambassadors”, the document to sign Kosovo and Israel's top diplomats.

The signing ceremony for this document will begin at 2:30.

The document also states that the technical aspects of this decision, including the accreditment of respective ambassadors “, will be subject to further discussions through normal diplomatic channels”.

Kosovo's ambassador to Israel is expected to be Ines Demiri, who in 2020 was appointed in charge of the job in the same state.

Meanwhile, foreign ministry officials have said this event will be historic, as for the first time two states establish relations through virtual platforms.

Political issues officials Artan Muhhaxhiri and Donika Emni say establishing diplomatic relations between Kosovo and Israel will affect Kosovo's consolidation in international relations, the process of new recognitions and its membership in various international organisations. They also add that the opening of the Kosovo Embassy in Jerusalem could produce reactions.

The mutual recognition between Kosovo and Israel is part of the September 4th 2020 Washington Agreement, which concerns normalising economic relations between Kosovo and Serbia. Kosovo has also pledged to open its diplomatic mission in Jerusalem, while Serbia has pledged to move its existing embassy to Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

” The signing of this agreement will have tremendous impact on the resumption of a Kosovo commitment and on Kosovo in the international sphere, as it is now clear that there is a stagnation on Kosovo's international advancement. Therefore, even building relations with Kosovo will turn Kosovo into a focus and create a new potential, which should still be fully exploited by Kosovo institutions”, Muhramiri said.

Even Donika Emini, executive director of the CaviKos Platform, in a conversation for Radio Free Europe, said that establishing diplomatic relations with Israel could also be a signal for states that have not recognised Kosovo, to make such a decision despite their internal problems.

“Establishing relations with Israel is very important because Israel has overcome internal problems with Palestine to recognise Kosovo. This is very common for Kosovo because this element can also be used by non-recognitional European Union countries. There are some states that do not recognise Kosovo, with the reasoning that they have similar problems on their territory, such as Spain. Now this element can be used by Kosovo, while Israel has exceeded Palestine, Spain can overcome the problem of Catalonia, which is not comparable to Kosovo, to establish diplomatic relations or diplomatic communication”, Amyni said.

After signing Washington's agreement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyah had said through a letter that these developments between Israel and Kosovo could lead to a new era in which both sides can benefit.

Former President Donald Trump's administration recognised Jerusalem as the capital of Israel in 2017, and in May 2018 opened the American Embassy in this city.

This decision prompted criticism among Palestinians, majority Muslim countries and many states in Europe who expressed concern that such a decision could undermine prospects for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

However, Donika Emine says the opening of the Kosovo Embassy in Jerusalem may cause reactions from other countries of the world, but that it will not be able to influence international relations.

“Now, the establishment of embassy in Jerusalem, Kosovo can cost in diplomatic relations which it has so far had solid with Turkey, but also the recognition that Kosovo has targeted by the Arab world, which it has not had. There is already a very new diplomacy of Kosovo, without tradition, but they must know very well how to navigate in such situations. Considering that not only the stagnation of recognitions or relations with Turkey but also the European Union may have a problem, as there has immediately been reactions from the EU for the shift of Serbia's embassy to Jerusalem and the construction of the Kosovo Embassy in Jerusalem”, Emini points out.

In addition to Kosovo, under Washington's agreement, Serbia will move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, which Israel considers to be the capital of the state. However, so far Serbia has not taken any action to meet this agreement point.

This decision is extremely difficult for the state of Serbia, considers Artan Mujaziri.

“This will be a difficult decision for Serbia because Serbia traditionally has very good relations with Arab countries, and this decision will harm Serbia's report with these countries, given reports they have towards the state of Israel. So this too is a fact that should be used by the state of Kosovo to witness Serbia's political hypocrisy, which wants to benefit from all sides, which often by appearing contradictory”, Muhrami points out.

Regarding the establishment of diplomatic relations between Kosovo and Israel on Sunday, incumbent Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti has said that “Kosovo as the parliamentary Republic, as a secular state, welcomes recognition and establishment of diplomatic relations with the state of Israel and commits to expanding co-operation in every area of mutual interest<1>.