‘Strengthening ties in the Pacific’.
Photo: SJI

Why do we need assistance from a Middle Eastern country?

ISRAEL JOINS PACIFIC FORUM

Israel has been accepted as a partner of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), marking a new step in its efforts to ‘strengthen diplomatic relations across the Pacific’.

Israel’s Foreign Minister announced the decision on 20 October 2026, saying that Pacific leaders had informed him of the approval following their meeting in Palau in September. The forum had not publicly confirmed the decision when the announcement was reported.

As a result, Israel will now participate in the forum’s Sectoral Partnership Stream – a new tier of engagement that distinguishes between “strategic” and “sectoral partners”.

Unlike ‘strategic partners’, which include the United States, China, Japan, and the European Union, ‘sectoral partners’ engage with the forum on “specific areas of cooperation”.

The forum says the arrangement is intended to ‘support collaboration on issues affecting Pacific communities’, including water security, desalination, agriculture, ‘climate change’ adaptation, innovation, and ‘sustainable development’.

Israel and the forum are expected to develop a Partnership Action and Commitment Plan, identifying ‘areas for cooperation’ and establishing a ‘mechanism to monitor progress’.

Water security is a particularly significant concern for many Pacific Island countries, and the forum says Israel’s experience in water management and agricultural technology could offer ‘opportunities for technical assistance’, training, and capacity-building.

We have already seen Israel partner with Australian governments here at home on water issues, including signing a memorandum of co-operation in 2020 across NSW.

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This new partnership follows an expansion of Israel’s ‘diplomatic presence’ in the Pacific.

Israel opened an embassy in Fiji in 2026, with responsibility extending to nine other Pacific Island countries. Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and Nauru have also opened embassies in Jerusalem, reflecting closer diplomatic engagement between Israel and parts of the region.

Netanyahu visits the opening of Fiji’s embassy in Jerusalem.
Photo: SJI

The timing carries wider geopolitical significance. Israel is seeking to strengthen international relationships amid mounting criticism of its conduct of the ‘war’ in Gaza.

Several Pacific island countries have previously supported Israel in international forums or opposed United Nations resolutions it rejected, making the region diplomatically important.

Nonetheless, the announcement has not come without backlash.

The decision has prompted political debate in New Zealand, where the opposition Labour Party criticised the government over Israel’s inclusion. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said the decision rested with the forum, according to local reporting.

The true extent of Israel’s new status will ultimately depend on the projects developed, the so-called needs identified by Pacific countries, and the extent to which the partnership produces measurable impacts for communities across the region – likely negative.

Whatever is to come, it is clear that Israeli officials want a closer relationship with the Pacific, perhaps similar to the existing partnerships they’ve had with Australia for decades.

Let’s not forget that the very creation of Israel wouldn’t have been possible without the actions of Herbert ‘Doc’ Evatt – an Australian who served as President of the United Nations General Assembly at the time of Israel’s admission to the U.N.

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Since then, Israel has become the unofficial ‘sixth eye’ in our intelligence network, using these connections to influence or ‘assist’ governments, police, media, and more.

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This long-standing relationship between Israeli and Australian elitists continues to this day.

In June, Gina Rinehart proposed offering free public land in North Queensland to Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Israeli defence manufacturers in a bid to ‘attract global investment’.

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Now, we will get to hear even more of their ‘expert advice’ as part of the Pacific Islands Forum – a region they are thousands of kilometres away from to begin with. How good.

Why are they nudging their way into this group as a ‘sectoral partner’?

Perhaps it may have to do with influencing Israel’s negative perception in the region.

In June, one major international survey found that Australians of all ages are the most likely in the developed world to hold unfavourable views of Israel, outranking the U.S and U.K.

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Indeed, the state of Israel has lost their grip on popular culture in the way I always understood growing up – remaining unchallenged and hidden behind the scenes – and the world has largely turned on them following the Gaza Con-flick.

It is no wonder they are looking to expand their reach into this region even further.

What do you think this may spell for Australia and other countries?

Be sure to leave your thoughts in the comment section below!