Israel Joins Pacific Islands Forum as Sector Partner

The Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) has accepted Israel as a sector partner, a decision announced by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar. Member state leaders approved the application during a meeting in Palau, and Secretary-General Baron Divavesi Waqa communicated the decision to Sa'ar. Israel originally submitted its request in June during a visit to Fiji, where it also opened an embassy in Suva to serve the region.

Under a new two-tier partnership model, Israel will provide technical expertise in desalination, water management, agriculture, innovation, and climate change adaptation. The two parties plan to establish a joint action plan and a monitoring mechanism to track progress. This diplomatic expansion follows the establishment of embassies in Jerusalem by Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and Nauru, with Samoa planning to follow.

The move has drawn criticism from the Palestine Forum of New Zealand, which demanded that Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters disclose the advice the government received regarding human rights implications. The group questioned whether New Zealand raised concerns about Israel's conduct in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories during the application process. New Zealand is a member of the Forum and is scheduled to host the 2027 Leaders’ Meeting.