Somaliland president makes first official visit to Israel

TEL AVIV, Israel — Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullah arrived in Israel on Sunday, where he was received by Israeli President Isaac Herzog. The visit marks the first official trip to Israel following Tel Aviv's recognition of the breakaway region. Talks were expected to focus on cooperation in security, the economy and development, as well as the opening of a Somaliland diplomatic mission in Israel. The trip comes months after Israel announced its recognition of Somaliland, which declared unilateral independence from Somalia in 1991 following the outbreak of civil war. The visit drew criticism from the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, Jordan and Somalia, who condemned the opening of a Somaliland diplomatic mission in Jerusalem. The ministers described the move as a violation of international law and of resolutions on international legitimacy.