Politics · Israel

Israel’s Somaliland recognition rattles Qatar and other critics

Summarizing Matthew Shea in Jewish Insider · Published Monday, December 29, 2025

JL;DR SUMMARY Israel's recent recognition of Somaliland as an independent state has sparked tension with Arab and Muslim nations, including Qatar, due to its implications on regional geopolitics. A way out west there was a fella, fella I want to tell you about, fella by the name of Jeff Lebowski. At least, that was the handle his lovin' parents gave him, but he never had much use for it himself. This Lebowski, he called himself the Dude. Now, Dude, that's a name no one would self-apply where I come from. But then, there was a lot about the Dude that didn't make a whole lot of sense to me. And a lot about where he lived, likewise. But then again, maybe that's why I found the place s'durned innarestin'.

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Places mentioned

Israel

"Israels recognition of Somaliland has stirred unease across parts of the Arab and Muslim world, challenging regional power dynamics as Jerusalem moves first in a strategically sensitive corner of the Horn of Africa."

Sool, Somalia

"Somalia is a member of the Arab League, joining in 1974 as the first non-Arab nation due to strong cultural, religious and historical ties."

Qatar

"The move puts Israel at odds with a number of Arab and Muslim nations including Qatar, a major power broker in Somalia and a key mediator in regional conflicts, at a time when Washington is seeking to expand the Abraham Accords and manage competing Arab interests in the Horn of Africa."

Egypt

"Qatar also released a statement with 21 Arab and Muslim countries including Jordan, Egypt, Iran, Pakistan and the State of Palestine stressing their unequivocal rejection of Israels recognition of the Somaliland region."

Turkey

"Egypt and Turkey, both close allies of Somalia, have also condemned Israels recognition of Somaliland."

Saudi Arabia

"Saudi Arabia, a country that holds a more moderate posture toward the Jewish state but has expressed reticence to establish relations with it, is reportedly less likely to normalize ties with Israel due to the recognition of Somaliland, according to Israels Channel 12."

United Arab Emirates

"The UAE, in contrast, has nurtured a close relationship with Somaliland, a factor that may have encouraged Jerusalem in its move to recognize the African state, though Abu Dhabi has not yet recognized Somaliland, Asher Lubotzky, a researcher at the Israel-Africa Relations Institute, wrote."

Sudan

"Somaliland is strategically located for Israel, across the Gulf of Aden from parts of Yemen controlled by the Houthis, who have frequently attacked Israel over the past two years."

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Cairo Item ID	71521
Cairo Source ID	43
Retrieved	2025-12-30 05:30:40 UTC
Curated	2025-12-30 08:30:46 UTC

Israel’s Somaliland recognition rattles Qatar and other critics

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