![Israel must continue to be able to deter Hezbollah, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar stressed on Wednesday, speaking amid efforts to reach a ceasefire with Iran's Lebanese terrorist proxy. "We need to keep the freedom to act if there will be violations. And we will have to act in time, before the problem will grow," the minister told a gathering of nearly 100 foreign ambassadors in Jerusalem, the Times of Israel reported. A deal to end more than a year of fighting on the northern border must be durable, Sa'ar said, saying Jerusalem “would like to reach an agreement that will stand the test of time." He added that a ceasefire would be an "opportunity" for Lebanon to regain its sovereignty after the Israeli military severely degraded the Iranian-backed group in recent months. He called for the Lebanese Armed Forces to be strengthened and urged the international community to invest more in the economically devastated country, which is drowning in debt following years of mismanagement and corruption. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz also emphasized on Wednesday the necessity for Jerusalem to be able to act against any Hezbollah threats that may arise after a ceasefire deal is implemented. “The condition for any political settlement in Lebanon is the preservation of the intelligence capability and the preservation of the [IDF’s] right to act and protect the citizens of Israel from Hezbollah,” Katz said. Meanwhile, U.S. special envoy Amos Hochstein remained in Beirut for a second day on Wednesday to discuss "technical details" of an American ceasefire proposal with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, who heads the Hezbollah-allied Amal movement. President Joe Biden's point man in the Land of the Cedars announced he would travel to Israel on Wednesday night, speaking after he made "additional progress" in a second meeting with Berri. Hochstein was scheduled to meet with Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer shortly after his arrival, followed by a tête-à-tête with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the following day. “The meeting today built on the meeting yesterday, and made additional progress,” Hochstein said. “So I will travel from here in a couple hours to Israel to try to bring this to a close if we can.” The Biden envoy added that he will work with the incoming Trump administration on ceasefire efforts, saying that he has kept the president-elect's transition team informed of progress. Hochstein described as "very productive" his meetings with Lebanese officials on Tuesday. “We have a real opportunity to end the conflict, and now is the moment to decide. We are committed to doing everything we can to work with Lebanon and Israel to end this conflict,” Hochstein said at a press conference on Tuesday. Hochstein also met on Tuesday with Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, and he was scheduled to meet with Lebanese Armed Forces commander Gen. Joseph Aoun. Mikati emphasized that Lebanon’s primary objectives are achieving a ceasefire and safeguarding its sovereignty. He highlighted the need to implement international resolutions and bolster the Lebanese Armed Forces in the southern part of the country. Lebanon delivered its written response to the latest U.S. proposal on Monday. According to Ali Hassan Khalil, an aide to Berri, the response included “comments” that were “presented in a positive atmosphere.” He did not provide details on the nature of the comments, saying only that they “affirm the precise adherence to [U.N. Security Council] Resolution 1701 with all its provisions,” according to Reuters. Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem said in a speech on Wednesday that the terrorist group had "read the ceasefire proposal. "We have our comments, and Nabih Berri has comments, and ours and the Lebanese government's comments are, Inshallah ['God willing'], identical," Qassem said. "We have decided not to discuss these ceasefire proposals or our comments in the media. All I will say is that Israeli is trying to obtain through negotiations what it couldn't through war." The terrorist leader vowed to “continue our efforts on the ground, whether the negotiations succeed or not. “We are confronting a savage enemy, and we will remain on the ground, no matter the cost, as we will also increase the cost for the enemy. We are facing Israeli human monsters supported by American human monsters,” threatened Qassem. Disarm and retreat Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 Second Lebanon War, stipulated that Hezbollah must disarm and retreat north of the Litani River, but was never enforced. The Litani lies some 20 miles from the Israel-Lebanon border. Its enforcement, along with Israeli freedom of operation in Lebanon should Hezbollah violate the terms of a ceasefire agreement, are the key sticking points in the current negotiations. Netanyahu emphasized during a speech in the Knesset plenum on Monday that Israel will not allow Hezbollah to “return to the state it was in on Oct. 6, 2023. “We will be required, in order to ensure our security in the north, to systematically carry out operations—not only against Hezbollah’s attacks, which could come. Even if there is a ceasefire, nobody can guarantee it will hold. So it’s not only our reaction, a preventive reaction, a reaction in the wake of attack but also the capacity to prevent Hezbollah from strengthening,” he said. Hezbollah has launched some 16,000 rockets, missiles and drones from Lebanon at Israel since joining the war in support of Hamas on Oct. 8, 2023, a day after the Gaza-based terrorist group’s massacre in southern Israel. More than 60,000 residents of northern Israel remain internally displaced due to the ongoing rocket and drone attacks from Lebanon. Seventy-six people in northern Israel have been killed by Hezbollah cross-border rocket, missile and drone attacks since the start of the war, including 31 soldiers and six foreign citizens, according to the latest data provided by the Prime Minister’s Office, updated on Sunday. In addition, 729 people have been wounded, including 497 civilians and 232 soldiers. Of these, 29 civilians and 37 soldiers were severely injured; 63 civilians and 38 soldiers were moderately injured and 405 civilians and 157 soldiers were lightly injured. Hezbollah’s leadership has been left in tatters following a series of targeted killings by Israel, including that of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut on Sept. 27. This was preceded by Israeli sabotage of Hezbollah communication devices that killed 39 people and wounded more than 3,400 members of the terrorist group. Israel has been waging a devastating aerial campaign against Hezbollah throughout Lebanon, including its stronghold of Dahieh south of Beirut. According to Israeli estimates, the terrorist group has lost most of its arsenal to the ongoing strikes. Then-Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said in late October that Hezbollah had lost an estimated 80%-plus of its long-range rockets since the start of the war. Israel also continues to battle Hamas terrorists in Gaza. The terrorist group still holds 101 hostages in the Strip, 97 of whom were kidnapped on Oct. 7. Many of the captives are believed to be dead. Brazil summit Meanwhile, G20 leaders gathered in Rio de Janeiro for a summit put out a joint statement on Monday calling for “comprehensive” ceasefires in Gaza and Lebanon. The leaders of the world’s biggest economies called for U.S. proposals to end fighting in Gaza and free the hostages, and one for Lebanon “that enables citizens to return safely to their homes on both sides of the Blue Line.” The 13-point U.S. proposal presented to Lebanese officials on Nov. 14 includes a 60-day truce, during which Lebanon would redeploy its troops along the border. The proposal also calls for Moscow to prevent Hezbollah from resupplying itself via Syrian land routes. Hezbollah would retreat north of the Litani River, with the border area then being under control of the Lebanese Armed Forces, overseen by the United States and Britain. Israeli officials are emphasizing, however, that the Israel Defense Forces must retain freedom of operation in Lebanon to thwart attempts by Hezbollah to violate the agreement and rearm and reestablish itself. A senior Israeli diplomatic official told Israel Hayom on Saturday that the IDF will retain operational freedom to respond to any security threats from across the northern border, regardless of any diplomatic arrangements. However, a source close to Hezbollah told The Washington Post that the group’s “condition for progress remains clear: Israel must be prohibited from conducting operations within Lebanese territory.” Berri emphasized at the time that any ceasefire agreement must not include the ability for Israel to attack by land, sea or air, Channel 12 reported. “Otherwise, what’s the purpose of an agreement?” he remarked. Another sticking point is Lebanon’s objection to the United Kingdom and Germany monitoring the implementation of U.N. Resolution 1701. Beirut reportedly favors the United States and France. If the ceasefire efforts fail, there are plans in the works to expand ground operations in Lebanon, an Israeli military official told the Post. Israel’s Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer discussed the proposal with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump during a visit to his Florida estate earlier this month, as well as with senior Biden administration officials in Washington. Dermer also traveled to Russia to discuss the ceasefire proposal. Tehran is telling its Lebanese terrorist proxy Hezbollah that it supports ending the war against Israel, The New York Times reported over the weekend. Ali Larijani, senior adviser to Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, met with senior Lebanese officials in Beirut on Nov. 15 to discuss the matter. Two Iranians affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps told the Times that Larijani conveyed messages to Hezbollah from Khamenei that he supported the end of the war and that the regime would assist with rebuilding the terrorist group’s forces and recovering from the war.](https://jewishwebsite.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Gideon-Saar-1320x880-2-218x150.jpg "Sa’ar: Israel must be free to act against Hezbollah truce violations")
After more than 10 years of covert relations, the State of Israel and the Republic of Kosovo agreed to establish formal diplomatic relations on Sept. 4, 2020. In September and early October of last year, former Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi said he was looking forward to the next celebration with Kosovo to be held in Israel.
Nevertheless, during the global pandemic, diplomatic relations were formally established between Israel and Kosovo on Feb. 1—not in person, but online. On March 14, the Republic of Kosovo opened its embassy in Jerusalem.
Demiri landed in Israel six months ago to represent Kosovo. Notably, Kosovo’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Meliza Haradinaj-Stublla and the current president of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani-Sadriu, are also women.
Fewer than 100 Jews now live in Kosovo, but they are an active community, according to Demiri.
Serving in New York City for four years, prior to her posting in Israel, she made good connections in the United States. Yet her first trip to Israel to attend a diplomatic seminar for Young Jewish Leadership in the summer of 2011, sponsored by the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, proved “an exceptional experience, and with representatives from 42 countries, it was a great introduction to diplomacy.”
After spending half a year in Israel, she sees tourism, water, agriculture, and economic and academic exchanges as the general areas that can benefit both countries. Demiri also plans to work more with Yad Vashem, believing there is much to share not only about Jews but also with Righteous Gentiles.
The interview was conducted in English, one of the five languages Demiri speaks. Her father, Votim Demiri, who is considered the head of the Jewish Community in Kosovo, served in Paris for the Chamber of Commerce, where she attended school before continuing her studies in Turkey.
At the historic, first-of-its-kind virtual online signing ceremony in February, Ashkenazi remarked that “the establishment of relations between Israel and Kosovo is an important and exciting historical step that reflects the many changes the region has experienced in recent months. Today, Kosovo officially joins the circle of countries that strive for peace and stability, and recognize Israel and Jerusalem as its capital.”
Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia in 2008. Its long history of conquests goes back centuries before the Ottoman Empire. Connections with Israel can be traced to the 15th century when six families, including the Levi, Cohen and Bahar families, fled the inquisition in Spain and Portugal, and settled in Novo Brdo.
Until World War II, the Jewish community supported a yeshivah, two synagogues and a long-established Jewish cemetery. When the Italians arrived in 1943, the Albanians helped Jews by falsifying documents and providing them with an escape route.
However, when the Germans invaded, 258 of the remaining Jews were sent to Bergen-Belsen, where 92 were murdered by the Nazis. Survivors came back to Kosovo after liberation and the end of the war. In 1948, a sizable group moved to the newly established Jewish State of Israel.
Today, a Bergen-Belsen memorial plaque has been placed in the location where Communists destroyed the last synagogue in 1963.
The following is a lightly edited question-and-answer segment of the interview with Demiri.
Q: How did the Muslim Kosovar population react to its embassy being placed in Jerusalem?
A: Political decisions of the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo in relation to other states are never taken based on the religious affiliation of its citizens or the religious affiliation of the citizens of another state, an agreement is concluded with, including the establishment of diplomatic relations, as in the present case.
It is true that the vast majority of the citizens of the Republic of Kosovo are Muslim, and they have welcomed and appreciated the establishment of diplomatic relations with the State of Israel in spite of isolated voices of discontent.
Albanians, for the most part, belong to three religions (Muslim, Catholic and Orthodox). This has historically been a basis of a unique religious tolerance and harmony, perhaps unparalleled for most of the world. This makes us very proud as a state, which also in its constitution is defined as a secular state.
Q: How can the embassy contribute to furthering relationships between Israel and other Muslim-majority countries?
A: In line with a unique friendship and relationship between Albanians and Jews, the embassy of the Republic of Kosovo in Jerusalem aims to deepen bilateral cooperation between the Republic of Kosovo and the State of Israel in all areas of interest for the mutual benefit of citizens in both countries. Specific focus should be on economic cooperation, as Kosovo is vitally interested to foster economic cooperation with Israel.
At the same time, since most of the citizens of Kosovo are Muslim, good bilateral relations between Kosovo and Israel will serve as an example to many other countries—be it majority-Muslim, majority-Christian or other faith.
We as a nation and as a people have gone through unspeakable suffering in our history, and now as a new state, we aim to build healthy friendships with other peoples and to establish bilateral relations with other countries based on democratic values and mutual respect.
Q: What about the vision for the future beyond the partnerships we discussed?
A: Six months after the establishment of the diplomatic relations between the Republic of Kosovo and the State of Israel, the embassy was mainly focused on getting to know each other and building relationships and cooperation. It is worth mentioning that there are already projects under consideration in many different areas of mutual interest for our countries. As I said earlier, the economy is an area where both countries will identify common interests. It is crucial that the State of Israel put Kosovo in its map of foreign investment and cooperation. Kosovo has state-of-the-art legislation to attract and protect foreign investments. At the same time, Kosovo has a highly skilled young population, which makes up a labor market, being among the cheapest in Europe.
Economic cooperation between the two countries is one of the best platforms to create sustainable relationships between our countries without forgetting the importance of building cooperation in education, medicine, IT and tourism.
On one side, establishing an embassy from scratch, and on the other side, running to fill the gap of years of absence of diplomatic relations was very challenging personally to me.
The interest by Israelis to know more about Kosovo—seeking cooperation in all possible fields—is a promising indication of our future close cooperation on a very wide range of areas.
The genuine friendships between the two peoples, based on history, are the core element that will result in concrete results not only between institutions but also between people-to-people connections.