Somalilandpress.com are still optimistic about rumours that Israel wants to recognise Somaliland's independence.

I understand their optimism and I totally support official recognition, but I am ultimately less optimistic. I have checked every hint they had, Hebrew-language articles in Israeli newspapers, quotes from officials, word on the street; but I never could find the source of the rumours.

I do know that the Israeli public are likely to support Somaliland.

Anyway, Somalilandpress.com published another article about the hopeful future:

Arab foreign ministers meeting in the Egyptian capital on Wednesday for their 133rd session have called for diplomatic action against Israel’s measures that posed a threat to the region and the peace efforts, as their adopted a draft agenda for the upcoming Arab summit.

The Arab officials condemned Israel’s inclusion of the Al-Ibrahimi and Bilal Bin Rabah mosques into its list of historic sites, called on the UNESCO, Organisation of The Islamic Conference (OIC) and the international community to take action against the Israeli move.

The Arab leaders have also expressed concern about recent reports suggesting that Israel might recognize the Republic of Somaliland. The Arab Councils said they support unified Somalia just like all Arab League members and will not tolerate foreign interference in an Arab League member nation.

http://somalilandpress.com/12168/arab-league-condemns-israel-over-somaliland-recognition/#idc-cover

Somalilandpress.com is doing a good job here after all since they point out that the Arab League is against Somaliland independence and that Somaliland is more likely to find allies outside the Arab world.

But the really interesting part is the discussion following the article. Note that Somaliland is an Islamic state. It's democratic but Islam is the state religion. Somalilanders are Muslims. (Culturally they are a mixture of Arab immigrants of Ishmaelite background and local Kushitic tribes.)

Boqoljire writes:

Thanks Somalilandpress, and hope the meeting between Israel and Somaliland will take forceful steps to normalize relations between the two countries. See how Arab League have reacted the news. It looks they just woke up and their true picture has finally stated clearly. They want Somaliland people to fight on their behalf with out brotherly neighbour country of Ethiopia. This is ridicules to say the least, and I would like my government to engage any country whoever support our cause of redeeming our lost independence.

naasir writes:

just i feel ashamed for Arabs,,,

Kayse writes:

If you ask me who would I deal with Arabs or Israelis? The choice is easy, see Arabs are incompetent, they talk and talk, say we going to do this and that, they never lift a finger, after months pass some times years, they wake up and call on a grand Arab Mufti meeting then they call each others "fat cow" and go home.

On the other hand, Israelis are notorious, these guys are unpredictable, they might have your back they might sell you, thats Jews for you but atleast they never stop doing what they put their minds to.

They are action people.

I rather be with Israelis I just watch my back but I roll with their actions where as Arabs just sit and sit.

Imagine Arabs without oil? have you thought of it? The picture is Yemen. Even Yemen has little oil, take that away too, the picture is Somalia.

Lets talk business Israelis but keep your Mossad away, Somaliland needs technology and Army like the Israeli ohh yeah and also we need a wall to construct between Somalia and Somaliland hahahaha, I can just imagine them as friends.

I am not fan of Arabs.

Note that there is some anti-Semitism here ("they might sell you, thats Jews for you") but he weighs what he has been told about Jews with what he has seen about the alternative and is willing to trust but verify.

Gobaad wrote:

Every country is looking out for its self-interest and so do we. We don't care what the Arabs want and we will not be part of a proxy war against Ethiopia over the Nile for Egyptians sake. Who cares? What matters is what we want.

The Arabs did not do any thing for us when we needed them. Instead, they chose to ban our livestock so as to hit us hard on the belly so that we would stoop and yield to their demands. Livestock is only economic engine and the livelihood of our people that would have helped us to survive after the damage and destruction of our country. We haven't forgotten that and we never will.

Let go after what is good for us and don't give a heed to what anybody else want sor says. If Israel is ready to recognize us, go for it Somaliland and don't look back!

Faisel A.Warsama wrote:

It's the time the Arab Leaders forgot or not inlude Somaliland into their Agenda, an Agenda that contains many issues that has made their people loose hope, it's the time they shoud have a consenus of working together towards those unfinished tasks that some has lived for years, am afraid Somaliland is not one of those Issues that make Arabs to discuss about it, it's not the Issue in the TABLE to solve it because Somaliland's Case is not an amibition of some people or parties but a legal Quest that it has fulfilled all the requirements of Statehood and the peace and stability that has become the hallmark of Somaliland has eluded Somalia. These attributes enabled Somaliland to enter bilateral treaties with many governments including Ethiopia, United Kingdom,China,India and Denmark. These are attributes that neither Puntland nor the rest of Somalia could claim. so I guess its us who has got the wheel now and the dice to roll as we want. as Mr. Dalmar has said in his article that Somaliland will look after its interest. Be it with Iran or Israel, Somaliland is open for business—first come, first served.

Ahmed Shawky wrote:

Arabs can't deny our right to recognition. People mix things.Talking to Israel doesn't necessarily mean that we are merging with it, and we are obeying jewsh ideas and religion. Diplomatic relations were there and during the prophets era, there were times of war and times of diplomacy with Jewsh. Arabs stabbed us on the back, let us down and themselves, we shall not wait their calls, it is time to decide our destiny. Those of you who blame this issue, shouldn't mix things, Talking with Israel doesn't mean we are leaving our culture, religion etc. They are the top priority and every agreement with Israel is based on our sovergnity, and independence.

Lander wrote:

Somaliland could benefit from Israel, Arabs got nothing to offer to anyone, they cant even help this "Somalia" they "care" so much about. Arabs if you reading this Somalia was divided and inflames for the past 20 years, did you wake up last week?

What did you do for Somalia? Did you even send them 20 police-men? The least you could have done was maintain your embassies in Mogadishu and define the rebels instead you ran before everyone else.

See if Israel comes to Somaliland they will be standing along side Somaliland even if it was to fall apart. This is the difference, Arab are weak and lazy, Israelis are hard workers and even though they not united themselves they are united for one thing - Jews should have a state.

They made it happen against the world, times when Europe was killing them.

Somaliland can learn from Israel and for Israel, it can prove to 1.3 billion Muslims that Israel can work with Muslims and what its been said against them is just Arab propaganda and Muslims shouldnt listen to weak Arabs.

Israel has a lot to gain from Somaliland, show to 1.3 billion Muslims, that Muslims and Jews can co-exist and maintain bilateral ties.

It goes on like this, with few opponents (to friendship with Israel) and only one or two who talk about evil Zionists and bloodsucking Jews.

THIS is how peace and multiculturalism are created.

You don't create peace by compromising with terrorists, you create peace by reaching out to people who will actually profit from peace.

In recent years African states, often subject to attacks by fundamentalist Muslims financed by Arab sources have increasingly turned to Israel for help and, in many cases, simply to help Israel whom they perceived as the number one victim of the same enemy. African states are becoming more powerful and more influential, taking over roles that Europe and America are slowly becoming too politically correct to pursue further.

Next year southern Sudan will become independent from its former Arab government and southern Sudanese (Christians and animists) already have good ties with Israel.

Western politicians should pay attention to whom they are talking. They see the world in terms of the west vs Islam. But there is a new world coming, a world of Christians and Muslims (and Jews) who cannot rely on western help and do not want to be ruled by Islamic fundamentalists.

For the west this means either to embrace this new world or lose influence. And that goes to both the pro-terror left and the anti-Islam right. You are both wrong.

Israel should recognise Somaliland.

And if it does, I'll personally donate money to start a student exchange program (Somalilanders studying in Israel) and organise collections for this project in synagogues.

What can Americans do?

There is already a strong lobby for recognition of Somaliland in the United Kingdom.

If you have a chance call on your representative or senator to read about Somaliland and talk to people from Somaliland.

If we can recognise Kosovo and Eritraea, we can recognise Somaliland!