Israel Joins Pacific Islands Forum as Official Partner

Israel has officially become a partner in the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), as announced by the organization's Secretary-General, Baron Waka. The decision was made during a meeting of the forum's member states in Palau, fulfilling an Israeli request submitted during diplomatic engagements in Fiji in June. Israel's accession to the forum is part of a broader effort to deepen diplomatic and economic ties with island nations in the region. As part of this initiative, a new Israeli embassy was opened in Fiji this year, also providing diplomatic coverage for nine other island nations friendly to Israel. Concurrently, three of these nations, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, and Nauru, have opened official embassies in Jerusalem in recent years. The new status as a "Forum Partner" will enable Israel to engage in a focused cooperation track tailored to the regional priorities of the Pacific. Within this new framework, a practical action plan will be developed, defining objectives and monitoring mechanisms, with a focus on areas where Israel holds a technological advantage, including water management and desalination solutions, agriculture, climate change adaptation, innovation, and sustainable development.