U.S. Deputy Representative to the UN, Tami Bruce, said that Israel has the right to recognize Somaliland's independence - and compared the declaration to many European countries' recognition of a Palestinian state. She said that "earlier this year, several countries made a unilateral decision to recognize a Palestinian state that does not exist." The statement was made during an emergency discussion of the UN Security Council, whose members oppose the recognition of Somaliland. The Slovenian representative, whose country recognized a Palestinian state, attacked the comparison: "Palestine was illegally occupied, Somaliland is part of Somalia."