Subscribe to Print Edition | Sat., February 07, 2009 Shvat 13, 5769 | | Israel Time: 01:17 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Joy of Giving Travel Week's End Anglo File
Last update - 00:00 19/12/2007
Kosovo, in Israeli eyes
By Adar Primor
Tags: Kosovo, Serbia, Milosevic 

On the eve of his extradition to the War Crimes Tribunal in The Hague, as the noose tightened around his neck, Slobodan Milosevic decided to grant his last journalistic interview to, of all papers, Haaretz. In that interview in March 2001, the deposed leader of Yugoslavia called for the suppression by force of the Kosovar Albanians' "terrorist separatism," lest the separatist snowball roll through all of the Balkans.

Milosevic also expressed his esteem for Ariel Sharon, who was one of the few leaders to come out against the Albanian separatists and against the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's bombing of the Serbian forces.

Eight years after the war in Kosovo, it appears as though the province's disengagement from Serbia is a fait accompli and that its independence will be declared soon. In Israel, it seems that there are those - in diplomatic and academic circles - who are adopting Sharon's political philosophy and are warning of the implications of this development. Their arguments are many and varied.
Advertisement
Today Serbia - tomorrow Israel: Israel must oppose the perception whereby a political and territorial conflict can be ended by means of an external, imposed solution and without the support of both sides to the conflict. If not, who will guarantee that in the future Israel will not have a solution with the Palestinians imposed upon it?

Moreover, who will guarantee Israel that an attempt by the Arabs of Israel to disengage from it - in Galilee, for example - will not also win active international support?

Damage to the international order: Israel must declare that it will not recognize the independence of any entity that has not been granted recognition by the United Nations Security Council. Bypassing the Security Council, which would negate the Russian's (who are opposed to independence for Kosovo) veto, will boomerang against Israel, which itself needs the American veto.

The "Serbian Jerusalem": Kosovo is not just a part of Serbia but also "the cradle of its nationalism and culture." If the "Serbian Jerusalem" is taken away from it, why should "Al Quds" not be taken from us in the future and become the capital of the independent Palestine?

The danger of Islam: The establishment of Kosovo will award a prize to a violent ethnic-religious minority, whose leaders have ties to the Mafia and to the global jihad. Recognizing them will increase Islamic influence and will strengthen anti-Semitic and anti-Israeli opinions in Europe.

Snowball, domino effect, Pandora's box: All of these are terms aimed at deterring a decline into irredentist struggles and bloody wars in the Balkans, and beyond. These arguments - some of which seem to have been taken from the Serbian propaganda machine, others of which spring from internal Israeli fears - are all baseless.

The Kosovar analogy does not resemble the Israeli-Palestinian situation: A declaration of Kosovar independence will not be unilateral, but rather with the agreement of the United States and (most of) Europe, and in accordance with conditions that will be established in advance.

The demographic/geographic reality in Kosovo, where the Albanians constitute a majority of 90 percent of the population, also does not resemble that of Galilee, where the population is mixed. No significant international body will recognize a separatist demand by the Arabs of Israel.

The need to bypass the UN derives from the recognition of its inability to resolve ethnic disputes. "The international order" does not, after all, enable intervention in the genocide in Darfur or the use of force in Iran.

Since the 19th century there has been a Jewish majority in Jerusalem, whereas in the "Serbian Jerusalem" there has not been a Serbian-Orthodox population for more than 200 years now; nevertheless, the Jews (or at least some of them) are willing to compromise in Jerusalem whereas the Serbs are refusing to relinquish "their heart and soul."

Kosovar society is mainly secular, the Islam there is moderate and will remain so since the new state will have no existence outside of the European area.

The desire - in the entire Balkans - to be annexed to that area is also what will render the bloodbath hypothesis unlikely.

In the end, Israel must be part of the democratic and enlightened world that recognizes both the self-determination of an oppressed people that has recently experienced slaughter, rape and ethnic cleansing, and its national aspirations.
Bookmark to del.icio.us  
 
A legitimate demand
Netanyahu brands Lieberman campaign against Israeli Arabs as 'legitimate'.
Death of 'Dr. Death'
After years of hunting Nazi 'Dr. Death,' Germany now looking for his body.
  1.   Milosevich admires Ariel Sharon 14:54  |  T A Sheppard 19/12/07
  2.   KOSAVA NEEDS TO MERGE WITH ALBANIA 15:26  |  Albanian 19/12/07
  3.   It`s not anti-semetism, it`s morality 15:33  |  Abba 19/12/07
  4.   Liberate Palestine 15:35  |  Walter Hurt 19/12/07
  5.   Israel/Kosovo 15:39  |  Sean 19/12/07
  6.   peas in a pod 15:43  |  gearoid 19/12/07
  7.   Pathetic attempt to link Israel to the evils of other people. 15:46  |  common sense 19/12/07
  8.   Serbs were ehnically clensed out of Kosovo by KLA 15:58  |  Boris 19/12/07
  9.   Serbs were ehnically clensed out of Kosovo by KLA 15:58  |  Boris 19/12/07
  10.   Serbs were ehnically clensed out of Kosovo by KLA 15:58  |  Boris 19/12/07
  11.   #7 Israeli War Crimes 16:08  |  EA 19/12/07
  12.   Thank You, Albanian 16:09  |  CHGODMK 19/12/07
  13.   The Holbrooke connection 16:12  |  D.R. Zukerman 19/12/07
  14.   "noose tightened" on Israel.... 16:16  |  POP 19/12/07
  15.   Shamefull 16:16  |  Albanian JEW 19/12/07
  16.   Sean in Derry #5 16:17  |  CHGODMK 19/12/07
  17.   THANKS TO "OUR FRIEND" BOSNIAN-SERB 16:18  |  indrajaya 19/12/07
  18.   THANKS TO "OUR FRIEND" BOSNIAN-SERB 16:18  |  indrajaya 19/12/07
  19.   Abba? "The fact that Anti-Semetism"? 16:22  |  Yosemite 19/12/07
  20.   Pathetic attempt to link Israel to the evils of other people. 16:22  |  David 19/12/07
  21.   Boris #8 16:23  |  D.R. Zukerman 19/12/07
  22.   Abba # 3 _ A Good Start For Your Juvenile Tantrum 16:31  |  Eli 19/12/07
  23.   Abba #3 and nonsense 16:39  |  dovvod 19/12/07
  24.   Somewhat Convoluted Article But This Is Key... 16:44  |  Yosemite 19/12/07
  25.   To Albanian JEW 16:58  |  CHGODMK 19/12/07
  26.   History lesson 17:02  |  ALBANIAN JEW 19/12/07
  27.   Kosovo 17:08  |  Rankovic Crni 19/12/07
  28.   To CHGODMK 17:15  |  Sean 19/12/07
  29.   Some very sad people 17:21  |  Enver 19/12/07
  30.   Response to all you 17:21  |  ALBANIAN JEW 19/12/07
  31.   An academic exercise... 17:36  |  Esther 19/12/07
  32.   this serb propaganda 17:36  |  David 19/12/07
  33.   CHGODMK on Kosova and Serb Claims 17:45  |  Yaakov Sullivan 19/12/07
  34.   kosova or kosovo? 17:49  |  bozhidar 19/12/07
  35.   CHGODMOK and Hate Groups 18:08  |  Yaakov Sullivan 19/12/07
  36.   MOTHER TERESA`S ORIGIN IS ALBANIA 18:23  |  indrajaya 19/12/07
  37.   that is true 18:24  |  Albanian JEW 19/12/07
  38.   Break up of communism led to the rise of nationalism 18:35  |  Ethel 19/12/07
  39.   Protection of civilian populations needed 18:42  |  Ethel 19/12/07
  40.   I do not know Israel`s fate tomorrow 18:47  |  Ethel 19/12/07
  41.   Road to Peace: Minority Civility 18:50  |  dea 19/12/07
  42.   We will ovewrcome the antisemites and haters 19:05  |  HIlda 19/12/07
  43.   to Boris, your dire prediction 19:11  |  Hilda 19/12/07
  44.   It is quite dangerous 19:17  |  Kris 19/12/07
  45.   Separate Matters: Ordinary Serbs v. Milosevic Maffia 19:19  |  dea 19/12/07
  46.   #9 19:21  |  Hilda 19/12/07
  47.   Albanian Jew 19:25  |  Hilda 19/12/07
  48.   History lesson 19:34  |  Hilda 19/12/07
  49.   Diplomacy, not war 19:41  |  Ethel 19/12/07
  50.   #42 Hilda 19:42  |  T A Sheppard 19/12/07
  51.   # 28 most of them are from the US anyway. 19:43  |  Kris 19/12/07
  52.   Jews and albanians 19:51  |  ALBANIAN JEW 19/12/07
  53.   Serbs have no history in Kosovo 20:46  |  Benjamin 19/12/07
  54.   RE: Jews and albanians 20:57  |  UC BERKELEY 19/12/07
  55.   #41 Dea 20:57  |  gearoid 19/12/07
  56.   Kosovo is the Heart of Serbia 21:24  |  Panetelija 19/12/07
  57.   Kosovo, SERBIA! 21:31  |  Boris 19/12/07
  58.   KOSOVO in Israeli Eyes 21:32  |  Lidia 19/12/07
  59.   Sounds like you have no history in fact finding 21:40  |  Boris 19/12/07
  60.   To UC Berkeley 21:50  |  Benjamin 19/12/07
  61.   HISTORY DEPT/ HARVARD edu part 1 22:07  |  Austin Wiesel 19/12/07
  62.   Serbia was the first Jewish Free State 22:07  |  Benjamin 19/12/07
  63.   HISTORY DEPT/ HARVARD edu part 2 22:28  |  Austin Wiesel 19/12/07
  64.   HISTORY DEPT/ HARVARD edu part 3 22:30  |  AustinWiesel 19/12/07
  65.   to Benjamin 22:40  |  Aleks 19/12/07
  66.   Shame on you! 23:44  |  Lazar 19/12/07
  67.   Austrian Kris, I can see right through your trick 23:57  |  Jake 19/12/07
  68.   Srbian Jerusalem 00:15  |  Nikolai Jankovic 20/12/07
  69.   kosovo 00:28  |  john 20/12/07
  70.   Kosovo 02:10  |  Dimal 20/12/07
  71.   What a British did to Jewish State they did also to Serbia 03:57  |  e.m 20/12/07
  72.   Kosovo In Israeli Eyes 04:13  |  Sidney Goldberg 20/12/07
  73.   Remember History and Learn Facts 05:05  |  Nikola 20/12/07
  74.   Haaretz has censored all my posts 05:44  |  Jake 20/12/07
  75.   Benjamin`s stories are old wives` tales 05:56  |  Jake 20/12/07
  76.   you should post every comment to be fair 07:00  |  ddd 20/12/07
  77.   Give me a break, just what is haaretz? Left or imperial? 10:37  |  jake 20/12/07
  78.   Kosovo Albanians 10:53  |  Petrit 20/12/07
  79.   Response to Adar Primor 12:32  |  Genti 20/12/07
  80.   To Serbian people part.1 19:56  |  Benjamin 20/12/07
  81.   To Serbs part.2 19:59  |  Benjamin 20/12/07
  82.   Kosova 20:15  |  the_albanian 20/12/07
  83.   RE: Hilda 20:23  |  the_albanian 20/12/07
  84.   To Jews `In The Know` 01:18  |  bobcat 21/12/07
  85.   Kosovo, in Israeli eyes 14:34  |  Nehemiah 21/12/07
  86.   There is no cush as Serbian/Albanian history 23:15  |  Spurs 21/12/07
  87.   Serbian Jerusalem? Or better, Serbia`s 21:40  |  Isak - albanian jew 29/12/07
  88.   Kosovo Serbia`s Poland 21:42  |  Isak - albanian jew 29/12/07
  89.   kosovo is slavian and serbian 100% 22:39  |  zarko 17/02/08
  90.   Mr Sharon,Russia and Serbia are right 03:02  |  David K 18/02/08
  91.   Contradictions of Kosovo 04:02  |  Paul 18/02/08
  92.   Sean #5 07:45  |  Shatarka 18/02/08
  93.   Supportive of the brave Serbian People 09:04  |  CastorTroy 18/02/08
  94.   Another Jihad State 13:37  |  neny 18/02/08
  95.   No recognition yete 01:14  |  Lobo 19/02/08
  96.   Amazing Analogy 00:09  |  Sania 21/02/08
  97.   Kosova 13:14  |  Kosovar 21/02/08
  98.   I support the Serbians 22:08  |  ArnieC 23/02/08
  99.   RE:Jews and Albanians 22:20  |  ArnieC 23/02/08
  100.   Serbian Mythology 02:39  |  Benjamin 24/02/08
  101.   Yad Vashem Honors Albanians Among Righteous Gentiles 05:40  |  Anastasia 24/02/08
  102.   response 00:08  |  zeljko slavicek 25/08/08
  103.   croatians 00:26  |  zeljko slavicek 25/08/08
  104.   Be real with Kosovar Albanians Right 05:22  |  Leo 31/01/09
 Read & React
Israel deports passengers from impounded Gaza-bound ship
Responses: 106
Haaretz poll: Kadima, Likud neck and neck
Responses: 20
The philosopher who gave the IDF moral justification in Gaza
Responses: 34
Turkey prosecutor to probe whether Gaza op was 'genocide'
Responses: 9
UNRWA suspends Gaza aid after Hamas steals food and supplies
Responses: 21


More Headlines
00:14 Report: Shalit deal may be reached by Tuesday
00:34 IAF strikes south Gaza targets after two rockets hit Israel
17:27 UNRWA suspends Gaza aid after Hamas steals food and supplies
17:38 Turkey prosecutor to probe whether IDF Gaza op was 'genocide'
17:40 Elections Committee rejects bid to ban far-rightist from Arab city poll
20:05 Britain's Miliband to Iran: Dispel nuclear fears or face new penalties
14:15 Haaretz Poll: Kadima, Likud are neck-and-neck with 4 days to go
15:31 Meretz leader to Haaretz: Two-state solution on last legs
00:54 Report: Holocaust-denying Italian priest expelled from ultraconservative society
14:42 The philosopher who gave the IDF moral justification in Gaza
12:22 Israel deports passengers from impounded Gaza-bound ship
11:12 Gaza aftermath: IDF bides its time, Hamas leaders hide out, everyone awaits truce
11:11 Elections 2009 / 'Lieberman is holding Netanyahu hostage'
08:24 ANALYSIS / Olmert wants Shalit deal before he leaves office
08:23 Greece holding ship bound for Iran over missiles on board
05:58 Steep rise in number of anti-Semitic attacks across Holland
Previous Editions
Special Offers
Advertisement
Summer in Israel
Israeli style - Tzofim Chetz V'Keshet 2009
Passover Vacations
The BEST Passover Vacations around ? Mexico, Arizona and Florida
Blue And White Forever Israel Army T-shirts
Wear with Proud Donate the Soldiers Kit
You can make a direct IMPACT!
on the life of an Israeli soldier
State of Israel Bonds
During this time of market volatility, Israel bonds can help.
SURF RAMBAM
Keep current about new-wave medical care, education and research.
Camp Kimama Israel 2009
The best place for your children this summer
Fattal Hotel Chain
Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel.
Eldan Rent a Car
Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on online reservations
Jewish Singles Personal Ads
Find the love of your life on JDate.com
Junkyard
Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | | Israel 2009 election results
Site rules | Makom: Engaging on Israel | Search engine marketing
Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved