The key facts
- Israel announced it had received partner status in the Pacific Islands Forum; the decision was made at a summit in Palau last month.
- New Zealand's opposition Labour Party said it would have opposed Israel's inclusion and demanded explanations from the government.
- PIF has not yet made an official statement, but held the first briefing with Israel on the MASHAV programme in Suva.
Israel becomes a partner of the Pacific Islands Forum
Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Tuesday that Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Secretary General Baron Divavesi Waqa notified Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar that Tel Aviv 'has been admitted as a forum partner.' According to the ministry, the decision was made at a meeting of leaders of PIF member states in Palau last month. Sa'ar visited Fiji in June, where he met Waqa and formally submitted an application to join the 18-member forum with the status of a 'partner country.'
New Zealand opposition demands explanations
New Zealand's main opposition Labour Party on Wednesday questioned the government's position following Israel's announcement. According to Radio New Zealand, the party's foreign affairs spokesperson Vanushi Walters said that Labour, if in power, would have opposed Israel's inclusion in the PIF. She said Prime Minister Christopher Luxon 'has serious questions to answer: how did this situation come about and what steps did New Zealand take to object.'
Positions on Netanyahu align
At the same time, Walters noted that Luxon said earlier this month that he 'would arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he came to New Zealand.' Labour leader Chris Hipkins also said during an election debate that Netanyahu should be arrested if he came to the country. According to Radio New Zealand, Luxon said he had 'the same position' as Hipkins.
Context: elections and upcoming summit
Tension over the Israel question in New Zealand coincided with the holding of general elections at the end of this month; next year the country's capital, Wellington, will host the PIF summit. The forum itself has not yet issued an official statement on Israel's admission as a partner.
First briefing on the MASHAV programme
On Monday, the forum said that Waqa and other PIF representatives held the first briefing with Israel on the development cooperation programme MASHAV at the forum's secretariat in Suva, the capital of Fiji. MASHAV is Israel's agency for international development cooperation. Waqa received Israel's Ambassador to Fiji and the Pacific countries Maya Yaron, and the meeting was also attended by MASHAV head Einat Schlein, who arrived from Israel to the Pacific region for regional events.
Areas of cooperation
According to Israel's Foreign Ministry, under the new agreement Israel will participate in the PIF's sectoral partner stream, 'providing focused cooperation in areas of mutual interest.' According to the ministry, cooperation will focus on regional priorities, drawing on Israel's experience in water resource management, desalination, agriculture, climate change adaptation, innovation and sustainable development; the parties will also develop a Partnership Action Plan and Commitments (PACE Plan).
