Somaliland says it will open an embassy in Jerusalem, Israel to reciprocate

* The former ⁠British protectorate ​hopes that recognition ⁠by Israel will encourage other nations to follow suit, increasing its diplomatic heft and access to international markets. * Israel's ⁠Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said on Tuesday that the opening of the embassy in Jerusalem would be ​another significant step in strengthening relations with Somaliland.

Somaliland, a breakaway region of Somalia, ​will set up an embassy in ​Jerusalem soon, its ambassador said on ‌Tuesday, after ​Israel became the first country to formally recognise the self-declared republic. * In turn, Israel is expected to set up an ‌embassy in Somaliland's capital Hargeisa, Ambassador Mohamed Hagi said in a post on X.

* Israel recognised Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state in December, a move Somalia rejected and termed a "deliberate attack" ‌on its sovereignty. * Somaliland has enjoyed effective autonomy - and relative peace and stability - since 1991, ‌when Somalia descended into civil war, but the breakaway region had until December failed to receive recognition from any other country.

* Over the years, Somalia has rallied international actors against any country recognising Somaliland. * The former ⁠British protectorate ​hopes that recognition ⁠by Israel will encourage other nations to follow suit, increasing its diplomatic heft and access to international markets.

* Israel's ⁠Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said on Tuesday that the opening of the embassy in Jerusalem would be ​another significant step in strengthening relations with Somaliland. Once opened, the Somaliland embassy would be ⁠the eighth embassy in Jerusalem, he said. * Most countries maintain their embassies in Israel in Tel Aviv, although the ⁠United ​States moved its embassy to Jerusalem during President Donald Trump's first administration. Fiji, Papua New Guinea and a small number of other countries have also established embassies there.

* Israel considers ⁠all of Jerusalem to be its capital, a position not widely recognised internationally. The United Nations ⁠and most countries ⁠regard East Jerusalem as territory occupied by Israel. * Palestinians seek East Jerusalem as the capital of a future state encompassing the West Bank and ‌Gaza.