US defends Israel's recognition of Somaliland at UN

UNITED NATIONS, Dec 30: The United States defended Israel's right to recognize the breakaway territory of Somaliland at the United Nations on Monday, comparing it to the recognition of a Palestinian state by numerous countries.
"Israel has the same right to conduct diplomatic relations as any other sovereign state," Tammy Bruce, deputy US ambassador to the UN, said during an emergency UN Security Council meeting.
"Earlier this year, several countries, including members of this council, made the unilateral decision to recognize a nonexistent Palestinian state, and yet no emergency meeting was called to express this Council's outrage," she added, accusing colleagues of "double standards."    �"AFP