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Last update - 02:37 18/02/2008 Recognize Kosovo By Haaretz Editorial Tags: kosovo, Israel  After half a century under Serbian sovereignty and nine years of autonomous rule under the aegis of the United Nations, Kosovo yesterday decided unilaterally to separate from Serbia, thus becoming the seventh country within the former Yugoslavia. The Belgrade government has said that it considers recognizing an independent Kosovo as undermining Serbian sovereignty. Although the Serbs constitute only about 5 percent of Kosovo's 2 million inhabitants, the Serbian leadership declared that Kosovo "will forever remain part of Serbia." NATO declared an alert, fearing the diplomatic tension would give rise to violent clashes. The declaration of independence by the Kosovar parliament, like most of the political and security events in the Balkans in recent years, is dividing the international community. Russia demanded an urgent discussion in the UN Security Council in order to prevent the move. Countries including Spain, Greece and Cyprus, which are fighting separatist tendencies, are opposed to the declaration, arguing that the move is contrary to international law and constitutes a precedent that could threaten European security. In contrast, the United States and the leading members of the European Union, including Germany, France, Great Britain and Italy, are planning to recognize the new country by today. Kosovo expects dozens of countries to recognize its independence. We have to hope that Jerusalem has properly weighed the reasons in favor of responding to the call of the new European state, in the face of pressure from Serbia. Although most of the residents of Kosovo are Muslims, the district has not identified with extremist Islamic tendencies and has kept a distance from Israel's opponents in the Arab world. Advertisement The Balkan experience has provided a cruel lesson in how difficult it is to repair national, ethnic and religious rifts. Joint sovereignty that lacks a social or political grounding does not erase historical tensions and cultural differences. Approximately 12,000 Albanians and 3,000 Serbians, who lived as neighbors for years, were killed in the bloody clashes that climaxed in 1998. Tens of thousands of Muslims fled or were expelled from their homes in what was described as ethnic cleansing. Only active intervention by the international community put an end to the violent conflict that caused an upheaval in central Europe, and Kosovo became a mandated area of the UN, under NATO military control. Jerusalem's special relations with the U.S., its major ally, always have been a central factor in Israeli diplomacy. Washington's decision to recognize Kosovo makes it easier for Israel to do so, too. The struggle of the persecuted Kosovar people for independence is reminiscent of struggles by other nations for the right to self-determination. The State of Israel, which was established in the wake of the Jewish people's struggle for a national home, should stretch out a hand to other nations seeking self-determination. Israel maintains diplomatic and economic relations with Arab and Muslim countries around the world. The government has a unique opportunity to stretch out a hand to the new state, and to prove that the Jewish state is not an enemy of the Muslims. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Sarkozy's promise 'France will never compromise Israel's security' Israel's agenda Is an Israeli strike on Iran still on the government's agenda?   1.   shall we than recognize any `new` state 09:52  |  joe 18/02/08   2.   Kosovo 12:31  |  Max 18/02/08   3.   RE:Max 12:52  |  Anthony 18/02/08   4.   If we can not recognize - we shoul 14:08  |  Sasha 18/02/08   5.   Israeli hypocrisy. 14:55  |  Gosh 18/02/08   6.   One illegitimate entity recognizing another 14:59  |  Ismail 18/02/08   7.   Israel doesn`t need to "prove" it`s not an enemy of the Muslims 16:12  |  Raymond from DC 18/02/08   8.   haaretz editorial 16:26  |  marcel 18/02/08   9.   No recognition of Kossovo 16:44  |  Magen Yair 18/02/08   10.   To Haaretz: First you recognize Israel 16:54  |  Nuchem 18/02/08   11.   Kosovo has NO islamic radical tendencies? 17:56  |  Spiros Mandrakos 18/02/08   12.   Illegitimate independence 18:01  |  Egyptian 18/02/08   13.   Why Israel Shouldn`t Recognize Kosovo 18:11  |  Moshe 18/02/08   14.   Israel won`t win any fans among the Muslim World 18:16  |  Benjamin 18/02/08   15.   Kosova 19:15  |  Adam Lexner 18/02/08   16.   Paradox 19:24  |  LazarOfSerbia 18/02/08   17.   It`s illegal 19:38  |  ivrydov 18/02/08   18.   What Comes Around Goes Around 19:58  |  Arthur 18/02/08   19.   Support Serbian rights 21:16  |  European Jew 18/02/08   20.   Kosovo- Questions for Haaretz 21:51  |  Garry 18/02/08   21.   Well Go Ahead And Try But... 21:55  |  Yosemite 18/02/08   22.   Serbs, we are whith you 22:44  |  Ninel 18/02/08   23.   Shalom & Recognize Kosova 22:49  |  Toni 18/02/08   24.   to no. 19 23:22  |  good guy 18/02/08   25.   Recognize Kosovo 23:46  |  Herman Bordowitz 18/02/08   26.   Do WE need to demonstrate to the muslims or the opposite? 23:50  |  Alain 18/02/08   27.   Kosovo illegitimate "state" 00:03  |  neny 19/02/08   28.   sucking up to Muslims should not be the cause of recognition 00:11  |  bernard ross 19/02/08   29.   Kosova Independence 00:25  |  Adrian 19/02/08   30.   #20 Shalom 00:43  |  Isaac 19/02/08   31.   Work With Turkey 01:24  |  Yosemite 19/02/08   32.   muslims and jews in balkans 02:16  |  berdichever 19/02/08   33.   Good Editorial 03:10  |  Amori 19/02/08   34.   Kosovo 03:48  |  Dr David MacGuire 19/02/08   35.   #13 Moshe 04:43  |  Al 19/02/08   36.   Simply a crazy idea, and no good will come of it. 04:45  |  Johnboy 19/02/08   37.   #33 You might want to think again, Amori 04:54  |  Johnboy 19/02/08   38.   practicality and respect 05:52  |  davidk 19/02/08   39.   Beautifully put and Israel should recognize Kosovo 06:00  |  Smadar 19/02/08   40.   recognize a country that wont recognize Israel back 06:20  |  John Doe 19/02/08   41.   I am with Johnboy (Post No. 36) 06:40  |  Johnny Weintraub 19/02/08   42.   Recognize Kosovo Now 07:28  |  Avi 19/02/08   43.   LONG LIVE KOSOVO 08:00  |  indrajaya 19/02/08   44.   60 years after 08:06  |  Elisa 19/02/08   45.   Actually I`m Thinking Of Something... 08:07  |  Yosemite 19/02/08   46.   int`l recognition will legalize terror 08:55  |  tomkrishan 19/02/08   47.   read about jews in albania during WWII 10:18  |  Vlora 19/02/08   48.   Recognition is an act of civilization 10:19  |  Gent 19/02/08   49.   Kosovo as Muslems State 10:24  |  Jan Deguht 19/02/08   50.   47 Vlora 10:34  |  Baz Meshopar 19/02/08   51.   Recognize Kosova! No hesitation 10:34  |  Avenir 19/02/08   52.   Recognize Kosovo independence! 10:41  |  Norah 19/02/08   53.   please read these facts!!re: Jan Degught: Kosovo as Muslems State 10:47  |  Vlora 19/02/08   54.   Recall Holocaust 10:53  |  F. Tony Bislimi 19/02/08   55.   50 Baz 10:56  |  Vlora 19/02/08   56.   Jews expelled from Kossovo in 1998 11:00  |  Truthseeker 19/02/08   57.   Do recognize Kosova 11:13  |  ilir 19/02/08   58.   Kosova / Kosovo 11:18  |  Thanas Gjika 19/02/08   59.   Kosovo 11:35  |  Kosovo is Serbia 19/02/08   60.   thank you israel! 12:19  |  novak 19/02/08   61.   To : indrajaya 12:20  |  Joe 19/02/08   62.   Hej Benjamin 12:30  |  Lirim Shabani 19/02/08   63.   to No.28 12:36  |  Adriana 19/02/08   64.   To no.19 12:56  |  Mimoza 19/02/08   65.   Kosovo 12:58  |  Kosovo is Serbia 19/02/08   66.   56 Don`t albanians have their contry? It is called Albania! 12:58  |  Joe 19/02/08   67.   QK 13:02  |  Kita 19/02/08   68.   A message to israelis/Jews! 13:03  |  Donika 19/02/08   69.   Lirim Shabani 13:05  |  Joe 19/02/08   70.   Kosovo 13:45  |  Al 19/02/08   71.   SHAME ON YOU 14:03  |  Teuta 19/02/08   72.   Israel should Recognize Kosovo, a sign of Democracy 14:10  |  tony