Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks with Somaliland’s President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi. Click to see full-size image. (Israel’s Prime Minister’s Office)
Israel on December 26 become the first country to recognize the Republic of Somaliland as an independent state, in what may be the first step in a plan to permanently displace Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to the Horn of Africa and escalate military operations against the Houthis (Ansar Allah) in Yemen.
Somaliland, which claims the northwestern portion of what was once the British Protectorate in northern Somalia, declared independence from the country in 1991, but has failed until the accord with Israel to secure the recognition of any United Nations member state.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel and Somaliland had signed a joint declaration establishing full diplomatic relations, describing it as being “in the spirit of the Abraham Accords”, a set of peace deals brokered by the United States to normalize relations between Israel and Arab states.
Somaliland’s President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi speaks on the phone with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Click to see full-size image. (Israel’s Prime Minister’s Office)
Speaking to Somaliland’s President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi by phone, Netanyahu said the friendship between the countries was “seminal and historic.”
“We intend to work together with you on economic fields, on agriculture, in the fields of social development,” Netanyahu said.
Netanyahu invited Abdullahi for an official visit to Israel. Abdullahi said he will come “as soon as possible,” according to the Israel statement.”
“I want you to know that I am signing now as we speak Israel’s official recognition of the Somaliland,” Netanyahu is seen telling Abdullahi in a video released by his office, adding that the new relationship would offer economic opportunities.
“I am very, very happy and I am very proud of this day and I want to wish you and the people of Somaliland the very, very best,” he added.
Netanyahu noted that the declaration “is in the spirit of the Abraham Accords, signed at the initiative of [U.S.] President [Donald] Trump.”
Somaliland’s President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi speaks on the phone with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Click to see full-size image. (Israel’s Prime Minister’s Office)
Abdullahi confirmed in a separate statement that Somaliland would join the Abraham Accords, stressing that he was committed to building partnerships, boosting mutual prosperity and promoting stability across both the Middle East and Africa.
Somalia’s government released a statement calling the accord between Israel and Somaliland an “attack” on its sovereignty and an “unlawful action”, and describing Somaliland as an “inseparable” part of the country.
The foreign ministers of Egypt, Turkey and Djibouti also condemned Israel’s recognition of Somaliland in a joint statement released by Cairo following a phone call between the Egyptian Foreign Minister and his counterparts in Somalia and the two other countries.
“The ministers affirmed their total rejection and condemnation of Israel’s recognition of the Somaliland region, stressing their full support for the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Somalia,” the statement released.
In addition, Saudi Arabia expressed strong opposition to the declaration, stressing “full support for the sovereignty of the sisterly Federal Republic of Somalia and the unity and territorial integrity of its land,” in a statement released by its foreign ministry.
Surprisingly, the U.S. didn’t share Israel’s enthusiasm about the accord with Somaliland. Trump told The New York Times that he will not follow Israel’s decision to recognize Somaliland, but will “study” the matter.
Trump initially said “No, comma, not at this…” before changing his answer to: “Just say, ‘No’,” then asked “Does anyone know what Somaliland is, really?” He even answered, “big deal,” when asked about Somaliland’s offer to host a U.S. military port.
“Everything is under study,” he said. “We’ll study it. I study a lot of things and always make great decisions and they turn out to be correct.”
The Israeli recognition of Somaliland was not surprising. Hebrew media reported that Abdullahi made a secret visit to Israel in October, meeting with Netanyahu, Mossad chief David Barnea and Defense Minister Israel Katz.
The Israeli accord with Somaliland signed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar. Click to see full-size image. (Israel’s Foreign Ministry)
According to Israel’s Channel 12, talks between the two sides gained momentum as Israel searched for countries willing to take in Gazans it was looking to move out of the Strip during the war. The Associated Press reported on these talks all the way back in March, and said that the U.S. was directly involved.
Trump has since stopped talking about the plan to permanently displace Gazans, but Netanyahu’s decision to recognize Somaliland suggests that the efforts are still alive, at least from the Israeli side.
Recognition was reportedly among the things offered to Abdullahi during talks earlier this year in exchange for settling a number of Gazans in Somaliland. Now, this has happened. Soon we could see some “voluntary initiative” by Israel to facilitate the travel of Palestinians from the Strip to Somaliland.
This is, of course, not everything Israel may be getting from the accord. Somaliland is located less than 300 kilometers away from Yemen, specifically from the country’s Red Sea coast that is mostly controlled by the Iran-aligned Houthis who over the past two years engaged in a full-on military campaign against Israel in support of Gaza.
Israel could use Somaliland territories to stage all sorts of intelligence and military operations against the Houthis. There are even two well-equipped airports there, Berbera and Hargeisa Egal. Using them could significantly reduce the complexity and cost of a sustained aerial campaign in Yemen in the future.
All in all, the accord with Somaliland has the potential to be a major win for Israel. However, for this to happen, support from the U.S. is needed.
Trump, who recently appeared to be more inclined to listen to Middle Eastern countries like Saudi Arabia and Turkey, could refrain from supporting Netanyahu on this.
Israel could also face many problems and security threats, especially if it decides to establish an intelligence or military presence in Somaliland. All of the population are Sunni Muslims, and there are some deep tribal frictions. Some will certainly not be happy about an alliance with Israel.
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the houthies will smoke anything the kikes will put there in “somaliland” (or whatever the fuck they are called)
yes the kikers there in that fucksake desert.
active combat is reported on several fronts. south of vilcha, russian units are advancing; west of liman, they captured five strong points…………………… https://ln.run/yphg1
bigger maggot spew his racist homophobic anti democratic anti semitic total.nazi identity obviously all over the page ,and using all of his other fake identities too .
as below .
ramses tom sawyer
the almighty jews and their american slaves have assumed the moral authority of divine judgement over the entire world without anyone’s consent.
as obvious. times of revelations per st. john the apostle.
what a load of bollocks america doesn’t even get a mention any more than any palestinians do .
incorrect as usual from a dipstick as if you don’t know obama declared the pope to be the moral authority for rule of law universally .but keep.trying to spread your lies as much as you like but the fact is the vatican says straight out that only it is the real church and only catholics are really human .
ranses tom sawyer
if someone declares it and no one contronts them you can asume its with silent consent.
bebe is too old now, he better retire before he make a fool of himself.
he’s open architecture.
ramses tom sawyer
in portofagdom we luv swallow hebrew jizz
esperma hebreu é infértil, estéril, não serve pra nada.
ramses tom sawyer …
wait for trump recognising it after a phone call of netanyahu then pressuring the rest of the west to do so as well.