The United States, Guatemala, Honduras, Kosovo, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, and Fiji also have embassies in Jerusalem, while other countries \u2014 including Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia \u2014 have embassy branches in the capital. Other countries refuse to move their embassies to the city so long as Palestinian claims to its eastern neighborhoods have not been addressed in a peace agreement.<\/p>\n
\t Sa\u2019ar met with Abdullahi earlier at the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem, revealing in a readout from his office that the two had also met at the ministry in October, in secret, two months before Israel\u2019s recognition.<\/p>\n \u201cI 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,\u201d Sa\u2019ar said, thanking Abdillahi for his \u201chistoric\u201d decision to open an embassy in Jerusalem.<\/p>\n Sa\u2019ar acknowledged that \u201cthere are indeed challenges in building the relationship between Israel and Somaliland.\u201d<\/p>\n Jerusalem\u2019s unilateral recognition of the country was condemned internationally, including by the African Union and over a dozen Muslim-majority nations, which also issued a joint statement condemning Somaliland\u2019s decision to open its embassy in Jerusalem.<\/p>\n \u201cUnfortunately, there are many trying to undermine [bilateral ties]. They will not be successful,\u201d Sa\u2019ar vowed, adding, \u201cI am certain this partnership will continue to grow stronger for the benefit of both our nations.\u201d<\/p>\n On Sunday, Abdillahi met with Herzog at the President\u2019s Residence in Jerusalem, where he said that Somaliland will remember Israel\u2019s recognition of his country and its willingness to host the first-ever state visit by its leader.<\/p>\n \u201cIsrael has taken part in a moment that will be remembered in the diplomatic history of our nation, and we do not take that gesture lightly,\u201d said Abdillahi.<\/p>\n \u201cSomaliland has been talking, has been reaching out to the world leaders for the last 35 years,\u201d he continued. \u201cThey were asking only one question: to see us. Only one country desired to see us and recognize Somaliland, and that\u2019s the government of Israel and its people.\u201d<\/p>\n Herzog said the bilateral relationships must move \u201cfrom declarations to people-to-people cooperation in a range of fields \u2014 and we had a very interesting discussion on that \u2014 of so many topics of common interest, and we both also face strategic challenges, which are important to both nations.\u201d<\/p>\n \t \u201cWe both face the threat of radical extremism,\u201d added Herzog. \u201cWe both seek security and stability in the region and in the Horn of Africa. We both see the importance of protecting maritime freedom.\u201d<\/p>\n Sa\u2019ar also previously met Abdillahi during an official visit<\/a> to the Somaliland capital in January.<\/p>\n When Israel recognized Somaliland in December, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu invited Abdillahi to visit.<\/p>\n At the time, Abdullahi said that Somaliland would join the Abraham Accords, calling it a step toward regional and global peace.<\/p>\n The 2020 accords were brokered by Trump\u2019s first administration and included Israel formalizing diplomatic relations with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, with other countries, including Morocco, joining later.<\/p>\n The agreement with Morocco was followed by Israel recognizing<\/a> Rabat\u2019s sovereignty over the contested Western Sahara region.<\/p>\n Aside from Israel, no other United Nations member states have recognized Somaliland.<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t The war with Iran has been draining for all of us in Israel. But when I heard about a high casualty incident \u2013 ballistic missile impacts in Arad and Dimona that left nearly 200 people wounded \u2013 I drank a cup of coffee, packed a bag, and headed south.<\/p>\n There, I spoke with Shilgit, the head of an after-school program for underprivileged youth. Standing outside her destroyed center, Shilgit said it was a miracle that no children were hurt and spoke about the community coming together in the hours since.<\/p>\n As a Times of Israel reporter, I\u2019m committed to telling stories of resilience like Shilgit\u2019s. But my colleagues and I can’t do this alone. If you value work like this,<\/strong> please consider joining our reader support group, The Times of Israel Community.<\/strong> Your financial support is essential to keep real human reporting like this going.<\/p>\n \u2014 Stav Levaton, military reporter<\/strong><\/p>\n \t\t\t
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\n\t\tSomaliland\u2019s President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi signs the guestbook with his wife, First Lady Fardowsa Mohamed Roble, and President Isaac Herzog and First Lady Michal Herzog, at the President\u2019s Residence in Jerusalem, June 14, 2026. (AP Photo\/Ohad Zwigenberg)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Image-from-iOS-13-640x400.jpg\")
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\n\t\tSomaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi is greeted by President Isaac Herzog at the President\u2019s Residence in Jerusalem, June 14, 2026. (Ma\u2019ayan Toaf\/GPO)<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\tWe can’t do this work alone.\t\t\t<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/IMG_5258-200x200.jpeg\" "\\"\\"\/")
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\tYes, I’ll join\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n
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\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n