‘Kosovo’s moves towards Israel are the price of aligning with US policy’

Kosovo, a small majority-Muslim country in the Balkans, has signed up to United States President Donald Trump’s controversial Board of Peace and the planned International Stabilization Force for Gaza, after Israel gave its approval.The proposed force is, in theory, expected to help maintain security, support demilitarisation and train Palestinian police, though its mandate and composition remain unclear.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Kosovo finds remains of 23 people in mass graves searchlist 2 of 4Kosovo joins US-led Gaza International Stabilisation Forcelist 3 of 4Kosovo approves new government after months of political deadlocklist 4 of 4Kosovo’s former president guilty of war crimesend of listFor Kosovo, the decision has a particular resonance.Its statehood and security depend on international support and NATO protection, as well as the right of a population under pressure from a stronger neighbour to decide its own future. It is now joining a Gaza framework whose legitimacy is contested by Palestinian actors and legal experts, and in which Israel retains decisive influence.A debt to repay?Kosovo was an autonomous province within Serbia in the former Yugoslavia u...