Israel defends Somaliland move at UN amid concerns over Gaza motives |
By Michelle Nichols
UNITED NATIONS, Dec 29 (Reuters) - Israel defended on Monday its formal recognition of the self-declared Republic of Somaliland, but several countries at the United Nations questioned whether the move aimed to relocate Palestinians from Gaza or to establish military bases.
Israel became the first country to recognize Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state on Friday.
The 22-member Arab League, a regional organization of Arab states in the Middle East and parts of Africa, rejects "any measures arising from this illegitimate recognition aimed at facilitating forced displacement of the Palestinian people or exploiting northern Somali ports to establish military bases," Arab League U.N. Ambassador Maged Abdelfattah Abdelaziz told the U.N. Security Council.
"Against the backdrop of Israel's previous references to Somaliland of the Federal Republic of Somalia as a destination for the........