Kosovo joined 43 other countries in endorsing the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) definition of anti-Semitism.
Thursday, June 8, the southeast European nation adopted the IHRA definition.
Ines Demiri, the country’s Charge d’Affairs in Israel, made the announcement on Twitter.
The IHRA is the only intergovernmental organization mandated to focus solely on Holocaust-related issues. It has defined antisemitism as a “certain perception of Jews,” including verbal and physical hostility towards Jews.
“Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which can manifest as animosity toward Jews. According to the IHRA website, antisemitic rhetoric and actions target Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, as well as Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.
Tammy Ziv, Israel’s ambassador to Kosovo, commended the parliament for the decision via Twitter and expressed the nation’s commitment to “bring our two countries and people closer together.”
“I would like to salute the 79 MPs of all ruling and opposition parties in the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo who voted and adopted the IHRA’s working definition of antisemitism today in a unanimous vote. “We remain committed to bringing our two nations and people closer together,” Ziv wrote on Twitter.
The opening of Kosovo’s embassy in Jerusalem to Israel in March 2021 strengthened the country’s relationship with Israel. As the first European nation to establish an embassy in the contested city whose status is at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the decision was controversial.
Demiri championed the initiative, tweeting that it was the “greatest honor” of her life. Following the United States and Guatemala, Korovo opened an embassy in Jerusalem.
