00:00Prime Minister, good to see you again, welcome, welcome, welcome, very good, I'm delighted to see you here, thank you
00:28very much,
00:29and I look forward to hearing from you as well, thank you very much, Mr. Prime Minister, I'm here as
00:36a president of Somaliland, for the first state visit ever, for 35 years, we have been asking the world to
00:46see us, and Israel, and you yourself, for the first to see us and organize us, thank you very much.
00:55It's a very natural thing for us to do, because we remember as the Jewish people, a small people that
01:02ask for the recognition of our rights from the world, and so there's a natural sympathy to you, you're a
01:10democratic state, you have a solid identity, and you have the right to be recognized and embraced.
01:35Thank you very much.
01:43moment. It's the first official visit by the President of Somaliland after the official
01:50recognition of Israel, of Somaliland. We are proud, and I am proud, to have been my government
01:57as the first government on the planet to recognize Somaliland. Others will follow. And I think
02:04that these steps reflect a deep spiritual bond between our peoples. The Jewish people
02:12know what it means to possess an ancient history, a distinct identity, an unbreakable national
02:19spirit, yet still be denied recognition. And today Israel recognizes Somaliland and helps
02:26correct a historic injustice. I believe that we can expand our relations to many, many things.
02:34We discussed this both in my private meeting with the President, but also with our teams.
02:41There's much to do, much to do in the field of water, in the field of agriculture, in the
02:46field of technology, in the field of security, and in many other areas that Israel welcomes
02:55the cooperation and participation of our own people with your people, Mr. President. I
03:00think it's a friendship that is just getting closer and stronger all the time. This is by
03:07way of expressing also our appreciation for the fact that you are opening an embassy in
03:12Jerusalem, our ancient capital. It is your parallel recognition, just as we do expect nations to
03:20recognize your sovereignty, your identity, your own rights, your own national rights, the
03:28same thing we have vis-Ă -vis our capital. It's only been the capital of the Jewish people since
03:33King David. That's only 3,000 years ago. So for some countries, it's a belated recognition.
03:41For you, it was instant. And I very much welcome that. And I want to thank you and your distinguished
03:48delegation of ministers and officials. Welcome to Israel. Welcome to Jerusalem, our capital. And may we go from strength to
03:58strength.
04:09It is a great honor and great pleasure for me and my delegation, Mr. Prime Minister, for this moment to
04:25be in Jerusalem.
04:30In Somaliland, everyone has a nickname. My nickname is Iro, and I think you don't mind if I call you
04:39Mr. Bibi.
04:45Mr. Prime Minister, it is a profound honor to address you today on behalf of the government and people of
04:54Somaliland,
04:55Mr. Prime Minister, I wish to begin by expressing sincere appreciation for exceptionally warm welcome, generous hospitality, and distinguished reception
05:10extended to me and my delegation.
05:13Every aspect of this visit reflects not only protocol, but genuine friendship and respect between our two nations.
05:27Mr. Prime Minister, my friend, this is not our first meeting. I recall with appreciation my earlier discreet visit in
05:40October 2025 with the
05:43large delegation. Many of them are here when we met in your office and had a long, candid, and fruitful
05:52discussion. That meeting laid the foundation for what we see today. A growing structural and meaningful partnership between Somaliland and
06:07Israel.
06:08Today, today, we are strengthening a path already pelt on trust, dialogue and sharing.
06:17Mr. Prime Minister, I also acknowledge your courage and clarity in engaging with Somaliland where others were afraid of.
06:29Mr. Prime Minister, your recognition of Somaliland as a peaceful, stable, and democratic society in a volatile region reflects its
06:40statusmanship and its strategic foresight.
06:44Mr. Prime Minister, for too long, the international community has misunderstood Somaliland's success and misread the prolonged failure of Somalia
06:55over the past 35 years.
06:58Mr. Prime Minister, you have shown the courage to see reality as it is. Not as it is often betrayed
07:08and to recognize success where it exists. History will show the significance of this leadership.
07:17Mr. Prime Minister, Mr. Prime Minister, Mr. Prime Minister, this visit is not deeply symbolic, but strategically important. It demonstrates
07:31that Somaliland and Israel are building relationships growing in mutual respect, sharing experience, and conferencing interests in its stability, development,
07:43and security.
07:44Mr. Prime Minister, the Republic of Somaliland is a nation built on peace after conflict, democracy after fragmentation, and governance
07:53after collapse.
07:55Mr. Prime Minister, we have held credible elections, maintained internal stability, and contributed consistently to peace and stability in the
08:05whole of Africa.
08:06Mr. We remain committed to continuing this path and strengthening our role as a force for regional stability.
08:16Mr. Prime Minister, at the same time, we have organized Israel as a nation defined by resilience, innovation, and strategic
08:27strength.
08:28Mr. Prime Minister, our two people share experience of building stability under challenging conditions, and this forms a strong foundation
08:39for our partnership.
08:41Mr. Prime Minister, the potential for cooperation between Somaliland and Israel is fast and practical.
08:46Mr. Prime Minister, Somaliland possesses significant natural resources, including promising rare earth minerals, oil and gas prospects, and largely untapped
08:58extractive sector.
09:00Mr. Prime Minister, we also have one of the most strategic coastlines in the region, opening major opportunities in ports,
09:08maritime logistics, fisheries, shipping, and the blue economy.
09:13Mr. Prime Minister, in agriculture, we have fastest arable land supported by underground water resorts that can be developed through
09:22modern irrigation and technology.
09:25Mr. With investment and expertise, the sector can transform food security and create export capacity.
09:33So Maryland also maintains its free market, private sector-driven economy, and welcomes its international investment.
09:40Mr. Prime Minister, this provides strong opportunities for Israel engagement in finance, construction, tourism, agriculture, infrastructure,
09:49infrastructure, extractive industry, and innovation-driven sectors.
09:53Mr. Prime Minister, we see Israel's leadership in innovation and technology as a natural partner to Somaliland,
10:00untapped potential and strategic geography.
10:03Mr. Prime Minister, together we can build practical, transformative cooperation that benefits both our peoples.
10:11This relationship is not simple, it is strategic.
10:15It is based on realism, shared interests, and commitment to stability, development, and progress.
10:23It also sends a message that engagement should be guided by facts, outcomes, and potentiality.
10:33Somaliland remains a functioning democracy and a reliable partner for peace in our region.
10:40We call for continued international support for democratic governance and stability where it contributes to peace and development.
10:49As we move forward, we are committed to turning this partnership into a structural cooperation that delivers clear results for
10:58both nations.
10:59Once again, I thank you sincerely for your hospitality, your leadership, and your vision.
11:05This vision is marked in a new chapter in Somaliland-Israeli relations,
11:10undefined by trust, clarity, and shared ambition.
11:14Thank you, Mr. Prime Minister.
11:22Mr. President, thank you. Let me say a final word.
11:25I believe that Israel and Somaliland stand at the opposite sides of the Red Sea.
11:31But we are united by the same belief that freedom, democracy, and opportunity are stronger than extremism, terrorism, and chaos.
11:42So this agreement is not only about diplomacy.
11:45It's about building farms, agriculture, hospitals, businesses, technologies, and jobs.
11:53It's about turning friendship into prosperity for both our peoples.
11:58The enemies of peace â and there are quite a few of them around us â the enemies of peace
12:04build tunnels, missiles, terror armies.
12:06We will build something stronger â partnerships, innovation, a future of hope, and security.
12:15So today, we extend a hand of warm friendship to Somaliland, and we will build our tomorrow together.
12:22And together, we will show that the future belongs not to the forces of terror, but to the forces of
12:29peace.
12:29In that spirit, I welcome you once again to Jerusalem.
12:33Welcome, friends.
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