Big news is coming out of the Horn of Africa! In a move that is making headlines around the world, Israel has become the first country to formally recognize Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state.

This is a massive turning point for the region. While Somaliland has been acting as its own country since 1991—with its own money, passports, and police—it has spent decades waiting for another nation to officially recognize it. Now, that wait is finally over.

http://gty.im/2183548198 Yesterday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Somaliland’s President, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, signed a joint declaration to recognize each other. This isn’t just about a title; it’s about working together. Prime Minister Netanyahu shared that Israel wants to start cooperating with Somaliland right away in several key areas, including: Agriculture, health services, and technology.

Perhaps most significant is Somaliland’s commitment to join the Abraham Accords, a step President Abdullahi described as a journey toward regional and global peace. While the move has been met with complex reactions from neighbors like Somalia and Egypt, for Somaliland—which has governed itself with its own currency and police since 1991—it is a long-awaited “diplomatic diploma” handed over by a pioneer.

For those of us Nepalis who are living in Israel, yet carry the soul of Nepal in our hearts, this milestone feels like a gentle echo of a story that began sixty-four years ago in the high, thin air of the Himalayas.

As we watch these events unfold, we are reminded that Nepal was once the pioneer. On June 1, 1960, at a time when much of the world was hesitant, the mountain kingdom of Nepal became the first South Asian state to establish full bilateral ties with the young State of Israel, even before India and other South Asian countries.

It was a courageous decision led by Nepali Prime Minister B.P. Koirala, a man of strong pro-Israel conviction. Just twelve years after Israel’s founding, Koirala traveled to the Mediterranean, spending ten days meeting with leaders like the legendary David Ben-Gurion. They didn’t just share pleasantries; they shared a vision for the future.

When I unfolded the pages of history, I learned that Israel’s “Little Point Four” program was its own version of theUS’s Point Four Program—technical assistance for developing nations—focused on sharing Israel’s unique agricultural and technical expertise and establishing joint ventures in Asia and Africa. Through this initiative, Israel extended its technical support to Nepal, helping to create joint enterprises in agriculture, industry, and construction.

The archives also reveal Nepal’s deep interest in the “Nahal” program—Israel’s distinctive semi-military agricultural youth training initiative. Israel further provided scholarships to Nepalese students, sowing seeds of knowledge that would grow for generations. This was not merely diplomacy; it was a partnership between two nations that looked at their rugged landscapes and saw potential rather than poverty.

Decades have passed, yet the roots of that 1960 handshake remain deep. Today, the relationship has blossomed into a tapestry of human connection. From the Nepalese working as caregivers in Israeli homes to the first response of Israeli rescue teams after the Nepal earthquake (a Decade ago), the two nations have stood by one another in times of both labor and grief.

Even through the darkest chapters, such as the tragic loss of 10 Nepali students during the October 7 attacks, and the kidnapping of Nepali friend Bipin Joshi by the terrorist group Hamas, the bond remains unbroken. The bond between Nepal and Israel grows deeper with time – Bilateral relations between Nepal and Israel are becoming stronger than ever, shaped by trust and cooperation.

Recognizing a new nation is an act of faith. Just as Israel has now extended its hand to Somaliland, we remember with pride that Nepal was the first country in South Asia to recognize Israel’s right to exist in peace.

As a Nepali living in Israel, watching these new diplomatic ties form feels like seeing an old, familiar tradition continue. It is a reminder that when nations choose cooperation over isolation, they create a legacy of “mutual prosperity” that can weather any storm.

The Beauty of the First Handshake: Imagine a large, crowded room where everyone is waiting for someone else to speak first. The silence is heavy and uncertain. To be the first person to reach across that space and offer a hand is not just a gesture; it is a spark. Nepal was that spark for Israel in South Asia in 1960, and today, Israel is providing that same spark for Somaliland. It is the simple, brave act of saying, “I see you, and you are not alone.”

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)