Israel joins Pacific Islands Forum as partner

Israel has officially joined the Pacific Islands Forum as a partner, marking a notable expansion of its diplomatic footprint in the region. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar announced the acceptance on social media, stating that the decision was ratified by the leaders of the Forum’s member states during a meeting held in Palau. The Israeli Foreign Ministry confirmed the news via a press release, noting that Secretary General Baron Divavesi Waqa informed Sa’ar of the approval. This development positions Israel alongside more than two dozen existing external dialogue partners, including the United States, China, the United Kingdom, France, and the European Union. Prior to this addition, the Forum listed 21 such partners, including Japan. The formalization of this partnership follows a specific diplomatic trajectory initiated earlier in the year. In June, Sa’ar visited Fiji, where he met with Waqa and formally submitted Israel’s request to join the organization. During that visit, the two officials discussed the potential for collaboration. The subsequent approval at the Palau summit concluded the process, allowing Israel to enter the Forum’s Sectoral Partnership Stream. Under this framework, Israel will engage actively with the region on defined development priorities. The Israeli ministry specified that these areas include water management, desalination, agriculture, and climate change adaptation. Sa’ar expanded on this list, adding innovation and sustainable development to the scope of cooperation. The Forum and Israel intend to draft a new agreement that identifies shared priorities and establishes a mechanism to measure progress toward them. A joint action plan is also being prepared to guide this relationship. Israel has intensified its diplomatic focus on the Pacific over the past several years, a strategy that has yielded tangible results in bilateral relations. Earlier this year, the country opened its first embassy in Fiji, a mission that also serves nine other Pacific island countries. This establishment of physical diplomatic presence coincides with a wave of reciprocal moves from Pacific nations. Papua New Guinea, Fiji, and Nauru have all opened embassies in Jerusalem, actions described as shows of solidarity. Samoa has also announced plans to follow suit. These developments reflect a warming of ties between Israel and the Pacific community, characterized by a deep-rooted affection from local populations. The timing of this diplomatic milestone occurs amidst complex regional dynamics. Israel is seeking to deepen diplomatic support while facing mounting international pressure regarding its conduct of the war in Gaza. Several Pacific island states have occasionally aligned with Israel in votes or opposed United Nations resolutions critical of the state. Despite this alignment, the Pacific Islands Forum secretariat has not issued an official public statement confirming Israel’s new partner status. The organization did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the announcement. New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters was contacted for reaction but had not provided a statement at the time of reporting. Parallel to these diplomatic shifts, tensions persist in the region concerning human rights and sovereignty issues. West Papuan civil society organizations have recently called on Indonesia to allow access to their region for the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. They demand the opening of genuine, inclusive dialogue. Claims of persistent human rights abuses continue as violent conflict deepens in the rugged interior of the Indonesian-controlled Papua region. This conflict has caused an increasing number of internally displaced persons. In recent weeks, numerous Pacific countries echoed the 2019 call by the Forum for Indonesia to allow the UN rights office to visit Papua to assess widespread rights abuses. Seven years after that initial call, the visit has yet to occur, though Indonesia’s government stated last month that the visit remains on track. Patience among Pacific island countries has been tested by the delay. At last month’s Forum summit, countries within the Melanesian Spearhead Group bloc reiterated the call for access. Paul Mambrasar, director of the human rights advocacy group Elsham Papua, stated that the request for unconditional international access by the UN body and representatives from the Melanesian Spearhead Group and the Forum is a key demand. He noted that this access requires an invitation from Indonesia. Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly in response to recent calls by Pacific governments, including those from Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, Indonesian diplomat Nona Gae Luna stated that the government takes all credible claims of human rights violations seriously. She emphasized that national institutions, including the Independent National Human Rights Commission, work continuously to address such allegations. Critics argue that Jakarta dismisses concerns about rights issues in Papua. Rosa Moiwend, a West Papuan human rights defender, stated that the Indonesian government promotes a positive image of the human rights situation while conditions on the ground worsen, particularly due to military operations. She cited approximately 127,000 internally displaced persons waiting to return home. Access to Papua remains restricted for international humanitarian organizations aiming to assist these displaced individuals. Jakarta’s sensitivity to internationalizing the Papua issue was evident in statements at the UN. Gae Luna asserted that arrangements for visits by the High Commissioner must be agreed upon between the host state and the UN office, not set by third parties or regional bodies. Despite these restrictions, West Papuan defenders view the renewed Pacific push for access as welcome and timely. Moiwend highlighted the consistency of the Pacific leaders’ previous communiqués, expressing happiness that this stance persists. However, she urged the Indonesian government to respond constructively to the leaders’ statements. Mambrasar added that the renewed call is timely because Papua is currently more militarized than ever. Indonesian troops are deploying in greater numbers to combat the disparate guerrilla forces of the West Papua Liberation Army. He noted the use of more advanced military equipment, including drone units and aircraft used to bomb insurgent fighters, indicating an evolution in the conflict’s nature.