From the Liveblog of
Friday, December 26, 2025
Report: Israeli official warns Somaliland recognition undermines stance on Palestinian statehood
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on Google
Israel’s decision to recognize Somaliland as an independent state draws criticism from a senior Israeli official, according to Channel 12, who warns that the move undermines Israel’s long-standing argument against recognizing a Palestinian state.
The news outlet reports that the official, speaking anonymously, points out that while Israel is the first country to grant recognition to Somaliland, the rest of the world considers the breakaway region an integral part of Somalia. This, the official argues, calls into question Israel’s stance on Palestinian statehood, a position consistently opposed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli officials.
The report comes amid Israel’s historic decision to formally recognize Somaliland as an independent state. Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar signed the declaration for Israel, while Somaliland’s President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi signed for his country.
Somaliland, which declared independence in 1991, has not been recognized by any other country. However, several nations, including the UK, Ethiopia, and the UAE, have maintained liaison offices there.
The move followed reports in August that Somaliland was among several countries in talks with Israel regarding the potential resettlement of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip.
The Times of Israel Community.