Defending Israel, US likens Somaliland recognition to Palestinian statehood acknowledgements

American envoy accuses fellow UN Security Council members of ‘double standards’ for calling emergency meeting on Israeli decision to recognize the breakaway Somali territory

The United States defended Israel’s right to recognize the breakaway territory of Somaliland at the United Nations on Monday, comparing it to the recognition of a Palestinian state by numerous countries.

“Israel has the same right to conduct diplomatic relations as any other sovereign state,” Tammy Bruce, deputy US ambassador to the UN, said during an emergency UN Security Council meeting.

“Earlier this year, several countries, including members of this council, made the unilateral decision to recognize a nonexistent Palestinian state, and yet no emergency meeting was called to express this Council’s outrage,” she added, accusing colleagues of “double standards.”

The comments addressed growing global discord over Israel’s announcement on Friday that it would recognize Somaliland as a nation — a first that drew criticism from the African Union, Egypt, and the European Union, which insist on war-torn Somalia’s sovereignty.

US President Donald Trump has said he opposes recognition of Somaliland, and Bruce said Monday that “there has been no change in American policy.”

Slovenian Ambassador Samuel Zbogar, whose country has recognized Palestinian statehood, rejected Washington’s comparison.

“Palestine is not part of any state. It is illegally occupied territory, as declared by the International Court of Justice, among others,” while Somaliland “is part of a UN member state and recognizing it goes against” the UN Charter, Zbogar said.

As one of the current members of the Security Council, Somalia’s Ambassador Abukar Osman condemned Israel’s recognition.

“This act of aggression is aimed at encouraging fragmentation of the territory of Somalia” Osman said, calling for the UN’s unequivocal rejection.

Several member states voiced commitment to Somalia’s territorial unity without directly mentioning Israel.

United Kingdom Ambassador James Kariuki reaffirmed the country’s support for “the sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence and unity of Somalia.”

Some countries questioned whether the Israeli move was aimed to relocate Palestinians from Gaza or to establish military bases in Somaliland.

The 22-member Arab League, a regional organization of Arab states in the Middle East and parts of Africa, rejects “any measures arising from this illegitimate recognition aimed at facilitating forced displacement of the Palestinian people or exploiting northern Somali ports to establish military bases,” Arab League UN Ambassador Maged Abdelfattah Abdelaziz told the UN Security Council.

“Against the backdrop of Israel’s previous references to Somaliland of the Federal Republic of Somalia as a destination for the deportation of Palestinian people, especially from Gaza, its unlawful recognition of Somaliland region of Somalia is deeply troubling,” Pakistan’s Deputy UN Ambassador Muhammad Usman Iqbal Jadoon told the Security Council.

Israel’s representative Jonathan Miller said the move was “not a hostile step towards Somalia, and it does not preclude future dialogue between the parties,” calling it “an opportunity to strengthen stability.”

Somaliland declared its independence from Somalia in 1991 and had fruitlessly sought global validation until Israel’s announcement of official recognition.

Located in the Horn of Africa, the northern region of Somaliland is located across the Gulf of Aden from Yemen, making it strategically valuable.

Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.