Israel’s relationship with Pacific is ‘biblical, ageless, real’, says Fiji deputy PM

A Fiji deputy prime minister says the Pacific identifies with Israel in ways many would not understand.

Viliame Gavoka, who is also the Tourism Minister in Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka’s coalition government, was responding to a Facebook post about Israel being accepted into the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) as a development partner.

The PIF, which is backed by Australia and New Zealand as its founding members, is the region’s principal political decision-making institution.

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“The entire Pacific Islands identify with Israel in ways many would not understand,” Gavoka wrote a comment.

“It’s biblical and ageless and real.

“Are we going to upset some people? Perhaps… but we know that the relationship with Israel is timeless, whereas with others, it’s largely geopolitics and subject to what is fashionable for the moment,” he added.

Fiji is one of the staunchest supporters of Israel and opened its Jerusalem embassy in September last year, while Israel established its permanent presence in Suva in June this year.

Pro-Israel politicians
Both Gavoka and Rabuka are among the most pro-Israel politicians in Fiji and the Pacific.

Israel’s PIF status, which was decided at the leaders’ meeting last month in Palau, required consensus from all 18 Forum members, including Australia and New Zealand.

The decision has attracted a range of commentary across the region.

In Aotearoa, ACT leader David Seymour extended Israel “a warm Pacific welcome”, while Labour questioned Israel’s admission to the Forum.

New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters said to criticise Israel’s inclusion in PIF was an insult to Pacific Island countries, adding that the decision by the Pacific leaders should be respected.

Former PIF advisor Sione Tekiteki said Israel securing formal recognition through PIF was a way for it to “legitimise itself” in a region where it had gained much affection.