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Somaliland already operates as a de facto state. So why is Israel’s recognition of it so controversial?

JL;DR SUMMARY Israel's recent recognition of Somaliland as an independent state marks a significant political move, sparking global debate and UN intervention. 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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Tags

Abraham AccordsUnInternational LawGeopoliticsSomalilandSomaliaState RecognitionHorn Of AfricaAfrican Union

Places mentioned

Israel
"Last week, Israel became the first nation in the world to recognize Somaliland as a country, prompting global outcry and an emergency meeting of the United Nations."
Hargeisa, Awdal, Somalia
"Residents wave Somaliland flags as they gather to celebrate Israels announcement recognizing Somalilands statehood in downtown Hargeisa."
Awdal, Somalia
"The de facto state on the northern coast of the Horn of Africa has long operated independent of Somalia, but before Israels announcement, its sovereignty had not been officially recognized by any UN members."
Turkey
"Turkeys president, Recep Tayyip Erdoan, also called Israels move to recognize Somaliland illegal."
Washington DC, United States
"Hannah Feuer joined the Forward as a general assignment reporter in May 2025 after two years as a culture reporter at Seven Days, an independent weekly in Burlington, Vermont. Originally from the Washington, D.C., area, she is a 2023 graduate of Northwestern Universitys Medill School of Journalism."
Burlington, Vermont, United States
"Hannah Feuer joined the Forward as a general assignment reporter in May 2025 after two years as a culture reporter at Seven Days, an independent weekly in Burlington, Vermont. Originally from the Washington, D.C., area, she is a 2023 graduate of Northwestern Universitys Medill School of Journalism."

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Cairo Item ID 71696
Cairo Source ID 35
Retrieved 2026-01-01 05:31:09 UTC
Curated 2026-01-01 08:30:28 UTC