Fiji to Open Embassy in Jerusalem This Year

The South Pacific nation of Fiji is set to open an embassy in Jerusalem later this year, Deputy Prime Minister Viliame Gavoka announced on Wednesday. The decision, approved by Fiji’s Cabinet on Tuesday, marks a significant step in strengthening bilateral ties with Israel.

“We are absolutely excited about coming to Jerusalem, and we most definitely will be there this year,” Gavoka told JNS in a phone interview. The embassy inauguration, originally planned for last year, was delayed due to the war against Hamas in Gaza.

Fiji’s Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka reaffirmed the decision during a meeting with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. Sa’ar welcomed the move, tweeting: “I commend the Republic of Fiji’s government for its historic decision to open an embassy in Jerusalem, the eternal capital of the Jewish people.”

With Fiji’s decision, the list of countries with embassies in Jerusalem will grow to seven, joining the United States, Guatemala, Honduras, Kosovo, Paraguay, and Papua New Guinea. Most other countries with diplomatic ties to Israel maintain their embassies in Tel Aviv or its surrounding areas.

The momentum to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital received a major boost in 2018 when then-U.S. President Donald Trump moved the American embassy to the city. Since then, several nations have followed suit, with more expected to announce similar decisions soon.

Fiji’s move not only underscores its support for Israel but also contributes to the growing international acknowledgment of Jerusalem as the heart of the Jewish state.

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