Israeli diplomat Michael Lotem in Kenya, July 2025. Photo: Screenshot

The relationship between Israel and Somaliland has rapidly evolved into a strategic partnership spanning security, energy, infrastructure, and economic cooperation, according to the Jewish state’s first ambassador to the self-declared republic, who noted the strengthening of ties was part of a broader outreach effort by Jerusalem across Africa.

“They are looking to deepen cooperation in nearly every field — from energy and infrastructure to technology, education, and communications — and their desire to work with Israel is stronger than ever,” Michael Lotem said of Somaliland in an interview with Israeli news outlet N12 published on Friday.

“Security discussions are naturally part of the relationship, but our political dialogue extends far beyond that into many different areas,” he added.

In December, Israel became the first country to officially recognize the Republic of Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state.

Somaliland, which has claimed independence for decades in East Africa but remains largely unrecognized, is situated on the southern coast of the Gulf of Aden and bordered by Djibouti to the northwest, Ethiopia to the south and west, and Somalia to the south and east. It has sought to break off from Somalia since 1991 and utilized its own passports, currency, military, and law enforcement.

Unlike most states in its region, Somaliland has relative security, regular elections, and a degree of political stability.

Last month, Israel appointed Lotem as its first ambassador to Somaliland, after the two governments formally established full diplomatic relations.

Lotem, who was serving as a non-resident economic ambassador to Africa at the time of his appointment, will now shift to work as a non-resident ambassador to Somaliland. He previously served as Israel’s ambassador to Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi, and Seychelles, a position he concluded in August.

In his interview, Lotem described the growing bilateral relationship as part of Israel’s broader diplomatic and strategic push across Africa, saying the partnership also sends a wider message of legitimacy and engagement to Muslim-majority countries throughout the region.

“Over the past several years, Israel has invested significant diplomatic effort in strengthening its presence across Africa, an initiative that Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has strongly prioritized, and the results are already becoming visible very quickly,” the diplomat said.

He also pointed to what he described as major untapped potential for economic cooperation, particularly regarding Somaliland’s vast natural resources and minerals sector — including oil, gas, coal, iron, and gold.

“They are extremely interested in partnering with Israel across the entire minerals industry supply chain,” Lotem said, adding that there are also strong prospects for cooperation in energy, medicine, agriculture, education, water management, and communications.

“We hope more countries will come to recognize the strategic value and importance of this relationship,” he continued.

Although no other UN-recognized country has formally recognized Somaliland (Taiwan did so in 2020), several — including the United Kingdom, Ethiopia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Denmark, and Kenya — have maintained liaison offices, allowing them to engage diplomatically and conduct trade and consular activities without full formal recognition.

According to experts, the growing Israel-Somaliland partnership could be a “game changer” for the Jewish state, boosting the country’s ability to counter the Iran-backed, Yemen-based Houthi terrorist group while offering strategic and geographic advantages amid shifting regional power dynamics.

“Somaliland’s significance lies in its geostrategic location and in its willingness — as a stable, moderate, and reliable state in a volatile region — to work closely with Western countries,” argued a report by the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), a prominent Israeli think tank.

“Somaliland’s territory could serve as a forward base for multiple missions: intelligence monitoring of the Houthis and their armament efforts; logistical support for Yemen’s legitimate government in its war against them; and a platform for direct operations against the Houthis,” it continued.

Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi has previously said that the republic would join the Abraham Accords, calling it a step toward regional and global peace and affirming his government’s commitment to building partnerships, boosting mutual prosperity, and promoting stability across the Middle East and Africa.

The strategic partnership comes at a time when Israeli and US officials have warned of rising Islamist terrorist threats across Sub-Saharan Africa, placing the region at the forefront of global concern over jihadist activity.

Dan Bilzerian arrives at the Fashion Nova x Cardi B Collection Launch Party held at the Hollywood Palladium on May 8, 2019, in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States. Photo: Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency/NurPhoto via Reuters Connect

Two of the loudest online antisemitic voices have accused US congressional candidate Dan Bilzerian of telling them he wanted to assassinate Daily Wire co-founder Ben Shapiro and target Israeli officials.

“The first time I met Dan Bilzerian at his house, he had us put our phones in another room, then asked me how difficult it would be to assassinate Israeli government ministers,” Nick Fuentes posted on social media earlier this month. “Then he invited me to Dubai and Qatar, which I declined. On his way there he was ambushed by the FBI.”

Bilzerian, a social media personality, launched a bid last month to unseat incumbent Republican Rep. Randy Fine in Florida’s 6th Congressional District.

Days later, Israel’s Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism named Bilzerian in a published report as the most influential antisemitic figure in the world.

“To be honest with you, the only real battle in the world today I see worth fighting is f**king exterminating Israel,” Bilzerian said in a recent interview with fellow antisemitic influencer Sneako. “I mean, I would sign up tomorrow and go f**king put boots on the ground and go f**king kill Israelis.”

Lucas Gage, another prominent antisemitic voice on X, replied to Fuentes’ original posting, claiming a comparable experience when visiting Bilzerian.

“HOLY F**K. Nick, I swear to God, he did the same thing to me,” Gage wrote. “He walked me and Jake up to that room with a batting cage. We put our phones on the couch and went up to that secluded room with the big TVs. He asked me about where Ben Shapiro lived and how he could be taken out.”

Fuentes speculated that the visits could have served as some sort of set-up, responding, “This is getting really weird man. I wonder if anyone else has had a similar experience? Seems like his move was to invite all of the prominent JQ influencers to his place in 24/25, maybe the whole thing was like an Epstein-style honeypot. I just thought he was really dumb.”

Bilzerian, who has openly fantasized about murdering Jews, has faced legal controversies in the past.

In 2014, Miami-based model Vanessa Castano filed a $1 million lawsuit against Bilzerian which stated he “violently and intentionally kicked plaintiff in the face while wearing what resembled military boots.” The case was dismissed or otherwise disposed of; Bilzerian faced no criminal charges and insisted on his innocence.

Bilzerian recently referred to Fine, his opponent in the Republican primary, as a “fat Jew.”

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez speaks during a press conference after attending a special summit of European Union leaders to discuss transatlantic relations, in Brussels, Belgium, Jan. 23, 2026. Photo: REUTERS/Yves Herman

Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez defended FC Barcelona soccer player Lamine Yamal on Thursday night after the Spanish athlete received backlash for displaying a Palestinian flag during his team’s victory parade celebrating their Spanish league title win.

“Those who consider waving the flag of a State to be ‘inciting hatred’ have either lost their judgment or been blinded by their own ignominy,” Sánchez wrote in a Spanish-language post on X. “Lamine has only expressed the solidarity with Palestine felt by millions of Spaniards. Another reason to be proud of him.”

FC Barcelona won its 29th Spanish league title following a 2-0 victory over Real Madrid. During Monday’s championship parade through the streets of Barcelona, Yamal was filmed waving a Palestinian flag while standing on his team’s open-top bus.

Sánchez’s defense of Lamal seemed to be a direct response to a post on X published Thursday morning by Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz, who accused the 18-year-old soccer player of inciting hatred against Israel by waving the Palestinian flag during the La Liga championship celebrations.

Yamal “chose to incite against Israel and foment hatred while our soldiers are fighting the terrorist organization Hamas, an organization that massacred, raped, burned, and murdered Jewish children, women, and elderly on October 7,” Katz said. “Whoever supports this type of message should ask themselves: Does he consider this humanitarian? Is this moral? As the Minister of Defense of the State of Israel, I will not remain silent in the face of incitement against Israel and against the Jewish people.”

Katz added that he expected FC Barcelona “to distance itself from these statements and make it unequivocally clear that there is no place for incitement or for support of terrorism.”

Hours after Katz’s post, FC Barcelona released a statement distancing itself from Yamal’s actions and said “out of sensitivity” for those offended, his waving of the Palestinian flag would not be shown in repeat broadcasts of the event on the team’s official channels or in the club’s official distribution of photos to media outlets. The team made the remarks in a statement given to its Israeli fan club Barca Mania, who shared it on Facebook. The team said Yamal’s decision to wave the Palestinian flag was “not planned in advance by any factor associated with FC Barcelona but happened spontaneously.”

“At the moment during the celebrations of the Hala Liga championship, there was no intention of making a political statement on behalf of the Barcelona Football Club. Moreover, we disregard messages aimed at a community, state, or nation,” the team said in part. “The Barcelona Football Club remains always committed to the values of respect, bride, diversity, and conversation. We completely understand that the images and videos have caused discomfort or disappointment among members of the Israeli fan community and completely respect your sensitivity and feeling that such issues may provoke.”

FC Barcelona concluded by expressing appreciation for the team’s Israeli fans and their support throughout the years.