Israel becomes new partner of the Pacific Islands Forum

At a summit of Pacific Islands Forum leaders held in Palau, Israel was approved as a new partner of the regional body. The partnership will allow Israel to engage in the Forum’s Sectoral Partnership Stream, concentrating on development areas such as water management, desalination, agriculture and climate-change adaptation. The decision was communicated by the Forum’s Secretary General, Baron Divavesi Waqa, to Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, who had earlier presented Israel’s application during a visit to Fiji.

The Pacific Islands Forum already counts more than two dozen external partners, including the United States, China and the European Union. Israel’s foreign ministry said a formal agreement will be drafted to outline shared priorities and track progress. Pacific nations like Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Nauru have opened embassies in Jerusalem, and Samoa has announced similar plans.