Israel Recognizes Somaliland, UN Calls Emergency Meeting

The United Nations Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on Monday. This follows Israel's surprising decision to formally recognize Somaliland as an independent country. Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991. No UN member state has recognized it until now. Somalia considers the region part of its own territory. Israel announced the move on Sunday. A government spokesperson said the country would not "shy away" from the political debate it will cause. Israel also pledged to engage responsibly in the upcoming UN discussions. The emergency session was called by Somalia. It is expected to address what it calls a violation of its sovereignty. The recognition threatens to further destabilize the volatile Horn of Africa region. The international community largely supports Somalia's territorial integrity. Israel's break from this position is a major diplomatic shift.