Israel Joins Pacific Islands Forum as Official Partner

This partnership is part of a broader effort by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to deepen diplomatic and economic ties with Pacific island nations. Earlier this year, Israel opened an embassy in Fiji that also provides diplomatic coverage for nine other friendly island nations in the region. Additionally, three Pacific nations, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, and Nauru, have established official embassies in Jerusalem in recent years.

Under its new status, Israel will engage in strategic cooperation with the forum's member states, focusing on areas where Israel holds a technological advantage. This includes water management, desalination, advanced agriculture, climate change adaptation, innovation, and sustainable development. A joint action plan will be created to define practical goals and monitor implementation.

Following the announcement, forum representatives held an initial development aid briefing with Israeli officials at the organization's headquarters in Suva, Fiji. The meeting included Ambassador Maya Yaron, who heads the Israeli embassy in Fiji, and Ambassador Einat Shlein, head of Mashav, the Foreign Ministry's international aid agency. Discussions focused on technical assistance, training, and water security.