Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, on his first visit to Israel, said at the opening of the Somaliland embassy in Jerusalem: 'I stand here today to bring the blessings, thanks and appreciation of six million Muslims in Somaliland, in our capital Hargeisa, and elsewhere.'
Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi delivered a statement at the formal opening of the Somaliland embassy in Jerusalem on Monday evening, directly addressing the significance of the event for the Muslim-majority breakaway state. 'I stand here today to bring the blessings, thanks and appreciation of six million Muslims in Somaliland, in our capital Hargeisa, and elsewhere,' he said, according to reports from the event.
The embassy opening marks the establishment of full diplomatic relations between Israel and Somaliland, a self-declared independent republic not recognized by the international community. As The Zioneer reported earlier today, Abdullahi arrived in Israel on Monday for his first visit, met President Isaac Herzog, visited the Knesset, and laid a wreath at Theodor Herzl's grave. The visit and embassy ceremony cap a rapid deepening of ties between the two countries over the past year.
The president's remarks explicitly address potential criticism of a Muslim-majority nation establishing ties with Israel. No further official statements or bilateral agreements have been announced at this time.
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