When President Trump was asked what he thought about Israel's recognition of Somaliland, he answered with a question: "Does anyone really know what Somaliland is?"
Until 2 weeks ago, most people in Israel had not heard of this African state, and had no idea that Israel was thinking of engaging with it. But this unknown African state actually sits on a quite important international waterway, and it is right opposite the Houthi state that controls the Bab-el-Mandev strait that is a relatively narrow passageway from the open ocean to the Suez Canal. On one side of this strategic passage are the Houthis and on the other side is Somaliland. Clearly, good relations with this state will enable Israel to have military assets much closer to the Houthis than in the past.
Somaliland has been in independent country for 35 years. It has a functioning government, elections, rule of law, and defined territory. It has just one problem: the world does not recognize it as an independent country.
Existing interests and Somalia (which is not a 100% functional state) as well as fears that other separatist movements might make similar claims, prevent recognition. This despite the fact that Somalia itself has made absolutely no effort to assert its authority since Somaliland declared its independence 35 years ago.
Nonetheless, Israel's move has brought a swift emergency meeting of the UN Security Council to condemn Israel. This is the same hypocritical organization that, with a majority of over 150 states, did recognize the nonexistent Palestinian state, which has no territory, no sovereignty and whose official organizations support terror.
States like Qatar, a major supporter of terror, and the corrupt European states will preach to Israel about its recognition of Somaliland, when they have recognized a state that does not exist and is not likely to exist in any form in the foreseeable future.
This is how a world that hypocritical, corrupt and with no moral values that "recognizes" a thoroughly corrupt and terrorist entity as a state, and refuses to recognize a fully independent, democratic and peace loving country.
