'Times of Israel': Recognition of Kosovo halts Serbia's embassy move to Jerusalem

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Serbia will not fulfill its promise and move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem if Israel recognizes Kosovo's independence, an unnamed source close to the Serbian government told "Times of Israel", adding that Israel's recognition of Kosovo's independence would "destroy" the Jewish state's relations with Serbia.

"It could end in complete chaos, if there is no compromise on what kind of relationship Israel will ultimately have with Kosovo," the source told "Times of Israel", insisting on remaining anonymous.

The source said that diplomatic relations with Kosovo are "one thing," and recognition of a state's independence is "completely another thing," and emphasized that Israel's recognition of Kosovo would "destroy" relations between Serbia and Israel.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Friday that Israel and Kosovo have decided to "establish full diplomatic relations between the two countries.".

The source, who claims to have met with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić several times in the past few days, including after the Washington negotiations, emphasized that "some kind of diplomatic relations" between Jerusalem and Pristina would be "acceptable," but that this does not imply recognition of Kosovo as a sovereign state, N1 reports.

"Furthermore, such a move by Israel would harm the otherwise close relations between Israel and Serbia, and they would never be the same again. That's just how it is. The people in Israel should understand that," the source said.

Asked whether Serbia tacitly agreed to Kosovo and Israel establishing relations, the source emphasized that the two sides signed separate documents.

"The document that Vučić signed says nothing about Israel's recognition of Kosovo," the source concluded.