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Serbia and Kosovo announced on Friday that they have normalised economic and diplomatic ties with Israel as part of US-brokered discussion, with Belgrade agreeing to move their embassy to Jerusalem and Pristina to recognise the Jewish state.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Serbia will become the first EU member state to relocate their embassy to Jerusalem, a move which only the United States and Guatemala have done as the disputed city remains at the centre of the Israel-Palestinian conflict.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The US moved its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in 2017, going against decades of policy and threatening stability in the region.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Muslim-majority Kosovo will also set up its Israel mission in Jerusalem and in exchange earn Israel’s recognition, as it seeks to further legitimise its 2008 declaration of independence and statehood.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Netanyahu revealed Serbia‘s move during a speech on Friday, adding that the transfer will happen by July next year. <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n "I thank my friend the president of Serbia … for the decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel‘s capital and to transfer his embassy there," Netanyahu said.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n "I would like also to thank my friend President Trump for contributing to this achievement," he added.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n It was the second piece of big news from Washington in a month for Israel on the diplomatic front. Last month, the US-brokered <\/span>a deal for the United Arab Emirates to normalise relations with Israel<\/span><\/a>, symbolically marked on Monday by the first commercial air flight between the two countries.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Senior Palestinian officials have condemned the move, with Saeb Erekat, the secretary-general of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), suggesting Palestine has again become election fodder for Trump months out from the upcoming US elections.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n