 |
By Michael Freund
In an era when social media often amplifies hatred and outrage, something remarkable happened recently on X (formerly Twitter).
It began with a simple post I wrote on March 12. I mentioned that my sons, along with thousands of other young Israelis, are serving in the Israel Defense Forces as the Jewish state confronts Iran and its proxies. Like any father, I worry for their safety.
So I ended the post with a request directed to the people of Somaliland, a state that declared independence from Somalia in the early 1990s.
Over the years, I’ve met many Somalilanders online and been struck by their open admiration for Israel—its resilience, democracy, and ability to thrive despite hardship. Because of that, I asked them to do something unusual: pray for the IDF.
Even so, I never expected what happened next.
Replies poured in—warm, heartfelt, and sincere.
“I pray to Allah to stand with the people of Israel and protect them against Iran and all enemies who wish them harm.”
— Rakad Sultan, businessman connected to Somaliland’s Ministry of Labor”
“We pray a lot for the sons of Israel who are fighting the enemy. May they be victorious!”
— Amin Ismail
“Our prayers are with you. May G-d protect and watch over you. Long live Israel.”
The messages just kept coming. Again and again, religious Sunni Muslims from Somaliland expressed their willingness to pray for Jewish soldiers.
Pause and consider that.
In much of the Muslim world, public support for Israel is rare. Political rhetoric and decades of propaganda have fostered hostility toward the Jewish state. Yet here were Muslims openly praying for IDF soldiers—publicly, on a global platform.
Even more striking, it happened during Ramadan, a time of devotion and compassion. As Muslims worldwide turned to G-d, Somalilanders included Jewish soldiers in their prayers.
That is extraordinary—and deeply telling.
Located in the Horn of Africa along the Gulf of Aden, Somaliland declared independence in 1991. In three decades, it has built democratic institutions, held elections, and maintained stability in a turbulent region. Despite this, it remains unrecognized internationally. Israel, however, became the first to recognize it in December 2025.
Both societies share similarities: they arose from difficulty, were built under pressure, and survive in tough neighborhoods. But beyond geopolitics lies something more important—mutual respect between people.
The responses to my post weren’t official statements. They were simple prayers from ordinary Somalilanders.
And that’s why they matter.
Even among Arab countries that have peace with Israel, few citizens would so openly pray for its soldiers. For decades, hostility between Israel and the Muslim world was seen as inevitable.
But Somaliland offers another model – a Muslim-majority society that is pragmatic, outward-looking and open to cooperation.
Here were individuals who answered a Jewish father’s plea by asking Allah to protect his sons. That is more than a gesture. It’s a glimpse of what relations between Israel and the Muslim world could one day become.
Sometimes diplomacy doesn’t begin with treaties or official visits. Sometimes it begins somewhere far simpler: with a Jewish father asking for prayers, and Muslims answering that call.
About the Author
The writer, an ordained rabbi, served as Deputy Communications Director under Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He is a veteran Jerusalem Post columnist.
Disclaimer: The viewpoints expressed by the authors do not necessarily reflect the opinions, or viewpoints of Somaliland Chronicle, and its staff.
Notice: This article by Somaliland Chronicle is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial 4.0 International License. Under this license, all reprints and non-commercial distribution of this work are permitted.
