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Breakaway region achieves diplomatic breakthrough after more than 30 years without international recognition

Israel has become the first nation in the world to formally recognise Somaliland, ending the breakaway region’s three-decade quest for international legitimacy.

Foreign Minister Gideon Saar announced on Friday that Israel and the Republic of Somaliland had signed an agreement establishing full diplomatic relations, including the appointment of ambassadors and the opening of embassies in both countries.

The historic accord marks a significant breakthrough for Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but has failed to gain recognition from any United Nations member state.

Somaliland controls the northwestern of the former British Protectorate on what is today northern Somalia.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the new friendship as “seminal and historic” in a video call with Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, inviting him to visit Israel and calling it a “great opportunity to expand their partnership.”

Saar said the agreement followed a year of extensive dialogue between the two governments and was based on a joint decision by Netanyahu and Abdullahi.

“We will work together to promote the relations between our countries and nations, regional stability and economic prosperity,” Saar wrote on social media, adding that he had instructed his ministry to immediately institutionalise ties across a wide range of fields.

More to come…

It was a holiday-tastic mix of Snoop Dogg‘s greatest hits and Christmas favorites that livened up Minneapolis’ U.S. Bank Stadium during the halftime break for Netflix‘s Christmas Day telecast of the NFL’s Detroit Lions game against the Minnesota Vikings.

Snoop Dogg, Lainey Wilson and Huntr/x of “Kpop Demon Hunters” fame brought their own brand of Christmas cheer to the event. Martha Stewart introduced the “Snoop’s Holiday Halftime Party” segment with a Snoop Dogg spin on “Twas the Night Before Christmas,” with lines such as, “Fans forgot about their beef, because gin and juice filled the air.”

Snoop entered the arena in a fire engine-red double breasted suit topped by a long red coat with fuzzy red trim. He walked through a clever medley of his signature hits, starting with “The One and Only,” that shifted into “My Favorite Things” and then into “Nuthin’ But a ‘G’ Thang.” He was backed by a small orchestra that assembled on the gridiron, along with energetic dancers dressed in suits that suggested candy canes. A high-energy marching band and drummers added to the wall of sound presented.

There was some chatter online about the weak audio quality on Snoop’s vocals for telecast viewers. The challenge of delivering strong sound in a live broadcast was probably compounded by the fact that Snoop moved all over the stage and field during his performance.

Snoop was joined after a few minutes by Huntr/x, the trio of singers behind Netflix’s smash hit “Kpop Demon Hunters” movies, for a pop take on “The 12 Days of Christmas.”

Country star Lainey Wilson then joined the scene in a white sleigh for a spirited rendition of “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town.” Beloved Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli came out with his son, Matteo, to close out the show with a powerful duet on “White Christmas.” The elder and younger Bocelli were, of course, joined at the end by Snoop, Wilson and Huntr/x in classic network TV special closing number form.

This marks the second year that Netflix has carried two Christmas Day NFL games with a high-profile musical performance in between. Last year the appearance by Beyoncé added superstar status to Netflix’s inaugural “Christmas GameDay” telecast. This year, Snoop Dogg and friends, which included rising singer Tonio Armani, provided a modern spin on a feel-good, sing-along musical Christmas event. The segment closed with a cuddly picture of Snoop surrounded by his many children and grandchildren, all wearing holiday pajamas.

Earlier Thursday, Netflix carried the first of its two games, in which the Dallas Cowboys beat the Washington Commanders 30-23, in Washington.

(Pictured top: Lainey Wilson and Snoop Dogg)

Three Palestinians were arrested on accusations of lighting a Christmas tree on fire and damaging part of a Nativity scene at a Catholic church in the Israeli-occupied West Bank city of Jenin, the Palestinian Authority Police announced.

The attack happened at around 3 a.m. Monday, according to the church.

Palestinian Authority Police said Wednesday the three were taken into custody after a review of surveillance footage targeting the Holy Redeemer Church of Jenin. Tools believed to have been used in the attack were seized from the suspects.

Police condemned the apparent attempt to incite sectarian and religious tensions in the West Bank.

CHRISTMAS RETURNS TO HOLY LAND CITIES AS BETHLEHEM’S CHRISTIAN POPULATION DWINDLES, NAZARETH REMAINS STRONG

The church shared photos on social media showing the skeleton of a synthetic Christmas tree that had been cleared of the green plastic branches, and red and gold ornaments were scattered across a courtyard.

The torched tree was quickly cleaned up by the church, which erected a new one a day after the attack in time for Christmas Mass.

The church held a special ceremony with local Muslim and Christian leaders and politicians in attendance. Rev. Amer Jubran, the local priest at the church, said the arson was an isolated incident and emphasized the city’s unity.

“This occasion reaffirmed that attempts to harm religious symbols will never diminish the spirit of the city nor the faith of its people,” the Holy Redeemer Church said in a statement.

The small Christian community in the West Bank is facing increasing threats of extremism from various sides, including both Israeli settlers and Palestinian extremists, prompting them to escape the region.

Christians make up between 1-2% of the West Bank’s roughly 3 million residents, and the vast majority of the community is Muslim. Across the entire Middle East, the Christian population has been declining as people have fled conflict.

In Israel, some church authorities and monitoring groups have documented a recent uptick in anti-Christian sentiment and harassment, including in Jerusalem’s Old City. Extremist Israeli settlers have also reportedly vandalized and torched areas around churches and Christian villages.

POPE LEO XIV DELIVERS FIRST CHRISTMAS CALLING FOR END TO VIOLENCE IN MIDDLE EAST, RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR

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The Israel-Hamas war in Gaza kicked off a surge of violence in the West Bank, with the Israeli military’s offensive targeting terrorists killing hundreds of Palestinians and displacing tens of thousands. Terrorists have also attacked and killed Israelis in Israel and the West Bank.

The conflict has coincided with an increase in Israeli settler violence and Palestinian attacks on Israelis.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.