'Strengthening ties' or 'Shameful'?: Why Israel's new Pacific status is splitting the region

By Kelvin Anthony, RNZ Pacifi Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Israel's inclusion into the Pacific region's main political body has drawn sharply contrasting reactions across the region. While the official diplomatic tone from Pacific leaders, including New Zealand, has been welcoming and focused on consensus, civil society groups have described the move as wrong and demanded a review. Others, such as Kiwi media academic Professor David Robie, have called it "shameful", while veteran Solomon Islands diplomat Collin Beck said it puts into question the "credibility" of the Pacific Islands Forum's (PIF) partnership mechanism. Israel announced its acceptance into the Forum via a news release last Wednesday, which swiftly attracted a range of reactions - both for and against the move.

The announcement coincided with Israel's Agency for International Development Cooperation (MASHAV) head Eynat Shlein's visit to the region. Fijian Deputy Prime Minister Viliame Gavoka offered a biblical justification for Israel's inclusion, speaking for the "entire Pacific Islands", while the Pacific Conference of Churches demanded the PIF review its decision. The 18-member PIF has just over two dozen dialogue and development partners, which include countries such as the United States, China, the United Kingdom, France, Japan and Indonesia, that support the development priorities of the region. Israel has been added to the list as a sectoral partner and will offer support in the areas of water management, desalination, agriculture and climate change adaptation. "Strengthening ties with the Pacific Island nations is one of my objectives. Earlier this year, I opened Israel's Embassy in Fiji, which also serves nine other Pacific Island nations, all friendly to Israel," Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon…