Israel on Friday formally recognized Somaliland as an “independent and sovereign state” and signed an agreement to establish diplomatic ties between the two countries, the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.“The prime minister announced today the official recognition of the Republic of Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state,” his office said, making Israel the first country to officially recognize Somaliland as a country.“The declaration is in the spirit of the Abraham Accords,” Netanyahu’s office said, referring to several agreements between Israel and Arab countries brokered by US President Donald Trump during his first presidency.For all the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The president of Somaliland, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, hailed the recognition move, saying it marked the beginning of a “strategic partnership.”“This is a historic moment as we warmly welcome... the Prime Minister of the State of Israel’s