Image Released, EPA
Kosovo announced the establishment of diplomatic relations with Israel, and recognized Jerusalem as its capital.
The recognition by Kosovo, which has a Muslim majority, of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel contradicts the positions of other Muslim countries.
But the decision to normalize it comes after a group of Arab countries, including the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, announced the establishment of relations with Israel in recent months. Unlike Kosovo, these countries do not intend to open embassies in Jerusalem.
The Israeli and Palestinian sides are fighting over the holy city, which the United Nations does not recognize Israeli sovereignty over the eastern part of it, and the Palestinians want to make it the capital of their future state.
Israel occupied the eastern part of Jerusalem in the June War of 1967 with the rest of the West Bank.
The administration of former US President Donald Trump had transferred the US embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv, after its recognition of Israel’s sovereignty over the entire city, and a few countries friendly to the United States followed in that step.
Anthony Blinken, Secretary of State in the administration of US President Joe Biden, said he would not revoke Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel or return the US embassy to Tel Aviv.
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https://www.bbc.com/arabic/world-55881331
