Minister of Foreign Affairs Sa’ar is meeting with the President of Somaliland Abdirahman Abdullahi

The Minister of Foreign Affairs Gideon Sa’ar is meeting now with the President of Somaliland Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jerusalem The meeting was opened with statements to the media by the Minister and President. Minister of Foreign Affairs Gideon Sa'ar revealed behind the scenes relations with Somaliland: "This is our second meeting in this room. We met here discretely last October. I will always be proud of the privilege I had to write, with you and your people, the first pages in the story of the Israel-Somaliland relationship. I am certain this partnership will continue to grow stronger for the benefit of both our nations. Minister of Foreign Affairs Sa'ar's full statement: “It's an honor to welcome my dear friend, the President of Somaliland, to Jerusalem. Mr. President, this is our second meeting in this room. We met here discretely last October, but the media didn’t know at the time. So we’re revealing that now. Today, you're here on a historic State Visit as the President of Somaliland - six months after we established relations that continue to deepen and strengthen. I am proud of the role I had in establishing these ties - through the dialogue that took place during 2025 with you, Mr. President - and with your distinguished team. In those talks, we found a mutual desire for a relationship based on respect, friendship, and cooperation for the benefit of both nations. I also want to thank you for hosting me in Hargeisa in January. During that visit, I felt the warmth and hospitality shown by you, your team, and the people of Somaliland. Along the roads from the Presidential Palace to the airport , I saw with my own eyes the feelings of the people of Somaliland toward Israel. * Mr. President, Thank you for your historic decision to open the Embassy of Somaliland here in Jerusalem, the eternal capital of the Jewish people. We deeply appreciate Somaliland becoming the eighth country to take this important step. I believe more countries will follow suit in the near future. President Trump made a bold decision when he recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and moved the U.S. Embassy here in 2018. We are grateful that Somaliland has chosen to walk the same path of truth, friendship, and moral clarity. ** Mr. President, there are indeed challenges in building the relationship between Israel and Somaliland. Unfortunately, there are many trying to undermine it. They will not be successful. But both of us are determined to continue advancing this partnership. No one will decide for Israel - and no one will decide for Somaliland - who we conduct diplomatic relations with. The great strength of this relationship is that it exists not only between governments. It's a friendship between peoples. It exists in the hearts of the peoples. Mr. President, I am convinced that during your visit, you too will feel the deep feelings of our people. I will always be proud of the privilege I had to write, with you and your people, the first pages in the story of the Israel-Somaliland relationship. I am certain this partnership will continue to grow stronger for the benefit of both our nations. Thank you.” Credit: Shlomi Amsalem, GPO