Netanyahu Recognises Somaliland.

Benjamin Netanyahu has formally recognised Somaliland as an autonomous and independent nation. Somalia has responded angrily, saying the recognition of this area of Somalia was an "unlawful step". Somalia continued that this was "a deliberate attack" on its sovereignty. Also, labelling the Israeli recognition of Somaliland as "illegal aggression". And that it was "contrary to established legal and diplomatic rules". The European Union has called for "meaningful dialogue between Somalia and Somaliland". The US says it recognises only the territorial integrity of Somalia with Somaliland as part of Somalia.

The question is what was in Bibi's mind when he chose to recognise Somaliland? Why would he want to inflame a nation like Somalia? Officially, Israel states that it wants economic and friendly ties with Somaliland. However, knowing Netanyahu, there is more to it than just recognising the independence of a state. If you look at Somaliland, its coast is in the Red Sea. Not far from the Strait of Bab al-Mandab near Yemen, which is where the Houthis operate from. The Houthis, of all Israel's enemies, are the ones left standing when Hezbollah and Hamas have weakened. Despite being bombed by Israel, the US, UK, etc, Houthis from their base in Yemen were still able to launch missiles and drones into Israel. They were still able to attack shipping linked to Israel. The Houthis say their actions were in support of Palestinians in Gaza. Right now, since the Trump-brokered ceasefire, which isn't perfect, the Houthis are not taking action against Israel or Israeli-linked shipping.

So could the Israeli recognition have anything to do with the Houthis? Well, one wonders in return for Israeli help in the medical field, military field, etc, will Israel want military bases in Somaliland? So, if conflict begins again between the Houthis in Yemen and Israel, the Israelis will be better able to attack or counter-attack the Houthis more easily? However, that would invite Houthi retaliation on Somaliland, so would the Somalilanders want that? And what role would Somalia play in all this, given their opposition to the Israeli recognition of what they see as a breakaway province of Somalia? Would they even allow Somaliland to allow Israeli military bases there? For me, this whole thing looks suspicious. Given Israel's recent land grabs in Lebanon and in Syria, there is more to this Israeli recognition of Somaliland than pure recognition of a free and sovereign nation.

The Somalilanders themselves seem happy that a major nation has recognised them. And when you have a friend like Israel, why wouldn't the Somalilanders be happy? Israel will invest in Somaliland in ways that will help the people. The question is, what does Israel want in return? Are they treating the Somalilanders as equals, or is this the beginning of some colonial enterprise for Israel? Africa has bad memories of Western nations (though geographically, Israel isn't in the West) of Western powers dominating and exploiting them. African nations themselves are not recognising Israel's recognition of Somaliland, it seems, for that very reason. Is Israel, in its land grabs, recreating a colonial system akin to empire? This may sound mad in the 21st Century, where the empire has been put to bed or has it? But given that Israel's founders were of European origin and the majority of Israelis today are still of Ashkenazi (European Jewish descent), does it mean Israel has a colonial mentality?

Zionism rightly says that the Jews have a historical connection to the Holy Land. However, Zionism is an expansionist and colonial philosophy. From the beginning, Israel's existence has been at the expense of Palestinians. That's what all the trouble has been about, which culminated in the Israel-Hamas War after October 7. The war has left Gaza devastated, with what's left of the population hanging on by a thread. Hamas is weakened and reduced, but not totally defeated. The Israelis have gone all out to occupy whole regions of the West Bank. They have occupied Southern Lebanon after the war with Hezbollah. They now occupy a chunk of Syria after the fall of Bashar al-Assad. So this is why I have my suspicions about Netanyahu's intentions towards Somaliland.

Israel is a nation of largely European Jews, though of course, Jews from anywhere can come and make this nation their home. Are we seeing the beginning of a Western-inspired nation creating a greater Israel, an empire, though they won't admit it? Last time the world's empires were largely Christian (supposedly) and European in nature. If Israel is trying to create a large area of land or create protectorates like Somaliland (Somaliland was a British protectorate once) that give it domination and influence? This time, a largely European but Jewish, Western-based nation, Israel, through Zionism, is trying to create a zone of influence it controls, akin to the old European empires? In this day and age, where the idea of empire has supposedly been binned, Israel seems to be repeating the institution of empire.

Israel labels the recognition of Somaliland as in step with the Abraham Accords. The Abraham Accords were set up by Trump during his first term of being 'POTUS'. Israel and several Arab nations signed the accord for friendship and cooperation. So Israel has extended its recognition of a largely Arab descended nation mixed with Africans (Somaliland) in the light of the Abraham Accords, or is using that for cover for something akin to what I have discussed in this article.

A little history of Somaliland, as discussed, the region was a former protectorate of Britain. The nation has been autonomous from Somalia since 1991. When there was trouble all around in Somalia and other surrounding nations, Somaliland has enjoyed peace and tranquillity. So we will see what transpires from Israel's recognition of Somaliland going forward.

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