Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar hosted Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi in Jerusalem on Wednesday during what was described as an historic official visit. At the meeting, Sa’ar disclosed for the first time that the two had already met secretly in the same room in Jerusalem in October 2025, months before Israel and Somaliland publicly announced the establishment of relations.
Sa’ar said he was proud of the role he played in building the relationship and of the discreet dialogue that continued throughout 2025 with the president and his team. He said both sides had identified a shared desire to build ties based on mutual respect, friendship and cooperation. He also recalled visiting Hargeisa in January, saying he had seen there the warm attitude of Somaliland citizens toward Israel.
Abdillahi praised Sa’ar, saying his vision, commitment and leadership were central to the developing relationship. He thanked the foreign minister for helping advance the strategic partnership between the two sides.
Sa’ar also highlighted Somaliland’s decision to open an embassy in Jerusalem, calling it historic. He said Somaliland would be the eighth country to establish an embassy in Israel’s capital, and expressed hope that more countries would follow soon. The ties between Jerusalem and Hargeisa, he said, are now moving from secret contacts to an open and expanding partnership.
