Friday, March 12, 2010

Israel in Somalia: or Israel's dirty hands and feet

"In early February, Yigal Palmor, spokesman for Israel’s Foreign Ministry, reportedly told the Somalia media that Israel was prepared to recognize the breakaway territory of Somaliland, which split from Somalia in 1991, as an independent nation. If that happened, Israel would be the first country to recognize Somaliland, which is strategically located on the Gulf of Aden. There have been reports, all unconfirmed, that Israel has its eye on setting up a naval outpost at the port of Berbera to monitor the approaches to the Red Sea. The Soviet military established a naval port there in 1969 during the Cold War, along with an airfield capable of handling all types of military and cargo aircraft." (thanks Rami)