Kosovo said on Sunday it has formally opened "an embassy" to Israel in the disputed city of Jerusalem, it announced in a statement.

"Setting of the plaques and the state flag at the Kosovo Embassy in Israel reflects the Government of Kosovo's commitment to comply with the pledge for establishing the diplomatic mission to Jerusalem," the statement said.

Kosovo promised to locate its embassy in Jerusalem when it established diplomatic ties with Israel last year under U.S. sponsorship. Israel announced its recognition of Kosovo, a predominantly Muslim country, on September 4, making Israel the 98th UN member state recognizing Kosovo's independence. Kosovo, in turn, recognized Israel as a nation.

Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008. Serbia rejects it and considers Kosovo its own province. 

The new "embassy" is situated in downtown Jerusalem in the western part of the city.There was no opening ceremony, and Kosovo said it didn't send a delegation to inaugurate the "embassy" because of coronavirus restrictions.

Palestinians, who claim east Jerusalem as the capital of a future state, slammed the decision. 

Wasel Abu Youssef, a member of the executive committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, said the opening of Kosovo's "embassy" in Jerusalem contradicted UN resolutions and aimed to "weaken the Palestinian cause."

Most of the international community doesn't recognize the Israeli annexation of east Jerusalem and says the competing claims to the city should be resolved through negotiations. Most international embassies are in Tel Aviv.

On Thursday, the Czech Republic also opened a diplomatic office in Jerusalem, a branch of its embassy in Tel Aviv, a move that drew condemnation from the Palestinians and Arab League.

The status of Jerusalem is one of the thorniest obstacles to forging a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians, who with broad international backing want East Jerusalem, captured by Israel in the 1967 Middle East war, as their capital.

Israel annexed East Jerusalem after the 1967 conflict in a move that has not won international recognition.

(With input from AP, Reuters)