 "Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu Reuters/File Photo")
Israel said Thursday it plans to open an embassy in Fiji next year, after the Pacific island nation inaugurated its mission in Jerusalem in September.
“Just spoke with the PM and FM of Fiji… I informed the PM of my decision to open an Israeli embassy in Fiji in 2026,” Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar posted on X, referring to Fijian premier Sitiveni Rabuka.
“Opening the new embassy will tighten the relations between the two countries… at the same time, Israel’s embassy in Fiji will strengthen Israel’s presence in the entire Pacific region, which is friendly to Israel."
Rabuka inaugurated Fiji’s mission in Jerusalem in September, joining a small group of nations that have opened their embassies in the city, alongside the United States, Guatemala, Honduras, Kosovo, Paraguay and Papua New Guinea.
Most countries have their diplomatic seats in Tel Aviv due to the disputed status of Jerusalem, one of the most delicate issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Israel has occupied east Jerusalem since 1967, later annexing it in a move not recognised by the international community.
Israel claims the city as its eternal and undivided capital while the Palestinian Authority wants east Jerusalem, including the Old City, as the capital of a future state.
In 2017, then-US President Donald Trump unilaterally recognised Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, causing Palestinian anger and the international community’s disapproval.
On May 14, 2018, the United States transferred their embassy to Jerusalem.
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View AllTwo days later, Guatemala announced it would follow suit and transferred its own embassy to Jerusalem.
Papua New Guinea was the only other Asia-Pacific country before Fiji to open an embassy in Jerusalem, in September 2023.