Israel Joins Pacific Islands Forum as Development Partner, Sparking Regional Debate

Israel was added as a sectoral partner to the Pacific Islands Forum, a body of 18 island nations, during a news release that coincided with a tour by MASHAV chief Eynat Shlein. The partnership will focus on water management, desalination, agriculture and climate-change adaptation, and Israeli foreign minister Gideon Sa’ar highlighted recent embassy openings in Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Nauru. Pacific leaders, including New Zealand foreign minister Winston Peters and Fiji deputy prime minister Viliame Gavoka, praised the decision as strengthening ties.

However, civil-society organisations such as the Pacific Conference of Churches, as well as scholars David Robie and veteran diplomat Collin Beck, denounced the move as shameful and damaging to the Forum’s credibility, arguing it betrays the 1971 decolonisation commitment. The PIF Secretariat has not yet confirmed Israel’s exact status, while critics call for a review of partnership criteria grounded in international law and humanity.