Israel’s recognition of Somaliland has sparked a harsh diplomatic confrontation at the United Nations Security Council, which convened an emergency session on Monday. The deputy US ambassador to the UN defended the Israeli choice, Tammy Brucewhich accused the international body of inconsistency and of applying selective criteria in judging the sovereign decisions of states. «Israel has the same right to maintain diplomatic relations as any other sovereign state,” Bruce said, as reported by AFP, rejecting criticism leveled at Jerusalem for announcing official recognition of the Republic of Somaliland vas an independent state. In her speech, the American representative pointed the finger at what she defined as an evident double standard. «Earlier this year, several countries, including members of this Advisethey made a unilateral decision recognizing a non-existent Palestinian state. Yet, no emergency meeting was called to express the Council’s indignation”, he observed, underlining the asymmetry of treatment given to the different dossiers.
Tammy Bruce he then openly criticized the priorities of Security Council, accusing it of straying from its main mission. “This Council’s persistent double standards and diversion of attention divert resources and energy from the critical task of maintaining international peace and security,” he said. As for Washington’s position on the Somaliland, the deputy ambassador clarified that there are no changes in sight. «As for the Somaliland, we have no announcement to make regarding recognition by the United States. American policy remains unchanged”, he specified, dampening speculation on a possible immediate alignment with the Israeli decision. The ambassador of. expressed himself along the same lines Israel at United Nations, Danny Danonwho before the session openly denounced the attitude of Advise. «This is not a question of international security, but of double standards. When UN countries unilaterally recognize a Palestinian state, the decision is accepted without discussion and without objection. When Israel exercises its sovereign powers and acts in accordance with international law, the Security Council meets urgently,” he said, speaking of “unilaterality and hypocrisy” on the part of some members. The Israeli announcement, which arrived on Friday, sparked a negative reaction internationally. The decision was condemned byEuropean Union and by a coalition of Arab countries And Islamicwhich was also joined byOrganization of Islamic Cooperation.
However, according to some analysts, liquidate the Somaliland as a marginal actor would be a mistake. The professor Uzi Rabisenior researcher at Dayan Center for Middle East Studieshe defined the Somaliland «a new strategic ally of IIsrael in the Horn of Africa». In an interview with 103FM, Rabi explained that “people turn it into a joke because they don’t understand the reality”, underlining that it is “a territory six times larger than Israel”, located in a highly unstable area. According to the analyst, the Somaliland it would be trying to follow an autonomous trajectory, comparable to that of‘Azerbaijan in the Caucasus«a country in a hornet’s nest that wants to chart a different course and turn towards the West». Rabi he also downplayed the impact of international condemnations, arguing that the mutual recognition process between Israel and Somaliland would enjoy a tacit American green light. «We must really fear the condemnations of Security Council?”, he said, linking the move to US strategic interests in the region, from countering the Houthis in Yemen to controlling access to Bab al-Mandebone of the most crucial maritime passages in the world. In this context, Rabi concludes, “this is exactly where Israel should operate”, inserting the Somaliland dossier into a broader geopolitical competition in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea.
