Hyderabad, Jan. 8 -- Israel Foreign Minister Gideon Saar on Tuesday, January 6, visited Somaliland and said that the country is "not a virtual state like Palestine."

Saar made the remarks while addressing a joint press conference with Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi. "Somaliland is pro-Western and friendly to Israel," the Foreign Minister said.

According to a report by the Middle East Eye, Saar said that Somaliland and Israel would cooperate on strategic partnerships in the medical, defence, education and water sectors.

He said that Abdirahman has accepted an invitation from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to make an official visit to Israel. "In the coming months, we'll bring local professionals from Somali...