*Israeli outlets hail Fiji's move as a decades-long Christian campaign fulfilled. Rabuka's coalition delivers where budget cuts of the 1990s once failed. Sodelpa and ICEJ (Fiji) re-write Fiji's Foreign Policy Bible.
*Shortly before Rabuka executed the 1987 coups against the Dr Timoci Bavadra's coalition government, he (Rabuka) joined hands with a bunch of so-called nationalists at his cousin, the Reverend Raikivi's house:
'Save us, and save our land. You saved the Israelites when their land was taken from them by foreigners. Dear God, please answer our prayer and do the same for us.'
Fiji opened its embassy in Jerusalem on Wednesday, becoming the seventh country to do so, with leaders of Israel and the island nation sporting traditional Fijian garlands at the inauguration ceremony.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar celebrated alongside Fiji’s Prime Minister and and Foreign Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, Sa’ar’s office said in a statement.
“A new embassy in Jerusalem, our eternal capital!” Sa’ar cheered in the statement.
The event was a rare diplomatic bright spot for Israel at a time when allies are issuing increasingly harsh criticism of Israel’s conduct in the Gaza war and threatening sanctions.
Fiji was one of a dozen countries to abstain from a recent United Nations vote that overwhelmingly endorsed the creation of a Palestinian state, and on Wednesday, Rabuka paid tribute to his country’s relationship with Israel.
“I’d like to acknowledge the special bond and the enduring friendship and relationship that has existed between Fiji and the State of Israel,” Rabuka said following the inauguration at a ceremony held at the Foreign Ministry offices in the presence of Sa’ar.
Fiji is the seventh country to open an embassy in Jerusalem, joining the US, Guatemala, Honduras, Kosovo, Papua New Guinea and Paraguay. Argentina has also announced plans to move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem next year.
Rabuka, Sa’ar and Netanyahu posed for a photo, with Netanyahu and Rabuka sporting salusalu — traditional Fijian garlands.
Ahead of the ceremony, Netanyahu hosted Rabuka at his office, the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement. Rabuka, who is also the foreign minister, in turn invited Netanyahu to visit the South Pacific archipelago, the statement added.
Netanyahu thanked his Fijian counterpart “for his support and steadfast standing alongside Israel, and spoke with him about regional political and security issues,” the PMO said.
Most countries have their diplomatic seats in Tel Aviv due to the disputed status of Jerusalem. Israel claims the city as its eternal and undivided capital, while the Palestinian Authority seeks East Jerusalem as the capital of its future state. Most countries do not recognize Israel’s annexation of East Jerusalem.
Rabuka came to power in late 2022 as the head of a three-party government that included the right-wing Christian Sodelpa party, one of whose leaders’ demands was that Fiji open an embassy in Jerusalem.
Fiji’s embassy move follows a decades-long campaign by the Jerusalem-based International Christian Embassy of Jerusalem, which preaches support for Israel at churches across the Southern Pacific.
Israel had an embassy in Fiji, but it was closed in the 1990s due to budget cuts at the time.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar celebrated alongside Fiji’s Prime Minister and and Foreign Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, Sa’ar’s office said in a statement.
“A new embassy in Jerusalem, our eternal capital!” Sa’ar cheered in the statement.
The event was a rare diplomatic bright spot for Israel at a time when allies are issuing increasingly harsh criticism of Israel’s conduct in the Gaza war and threatening sanctions.
Fiji was one of a dozen countries to abstain from a recent United Nations vote that overwhelmingly endorsed the creation of a Palestinian state, and on Wednesday, Rabuka paid tribute to his country’s relationship with Israel.
“I’d like to acknowledge the special bond and the enduring friendship and relationship that has existed between Fiji and the State of Israel,” Rabuka said following the inauguration at a ceremony held at the Foreign Ministry offices in the presence of Sa’ar.
Fiji is the seventh country to open an embassy in Jerusalem, joining the US, Guatemala, Honduras, Kosovo, Papua New Guinea and Paraguay. Argentina has also announced plans to move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem next year.
Rabuka, Sa’ar and Netanyahu posed for a photo, with Netanyahu and Rabuka sporting salusalu — traditional Fijian garlands.
Ahead of the ceremony, Netanyahu hosted Rabuka at his office, the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement. Rabuka, who is also the foreign minister, in turn invited Netanyahu to visit the South Pacific archipelago, the statement added.
Netanyahu thanked his Fijian counterpart “for his support and steadfast standing alongside Israel, and spoke with him about regional political and security issues,” the PMO said.
Most countries have their diplomatic seats in Tel Aviv due to the disputed status of Jerusalem. Israel claims the city as its eternal and undivided capital, while the Palestinian Authority seeks East Jerusalem as the capital of its future state. Most countries do not recognize Israel’s annexation of East Jerusalem.
Rabuka came to power in late 2022 as the head of a three-party government that included the right-wing Christian Sodelpa party, one of whose leaders’ demands was that Fiji open an embassy in Jerusalem.
Fiji’s embassy move follows a decades-long campaign by the Jerusalem-based International Christian Embassy of Jerusalem, which preaches support for Israel at churches across the Southern Pacific.
Israel had an embassy in Fiji, but it was closed in the 1990s due to budget cuts at the time.
From Fijileaks Archive, 1 November 2023
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From Fijileaks Archive, 15 February 2024
From Fijileaks Archive, 7 November 2023
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A NOTE FOR 'CATHOLIC PIO TIKODUADUA: "JERUSALEM FOR ALL"
The Holy See has always called for respect for the United Nations Resolutions on Jerusalem, a Holy City for the three monotheistic religions. Jerusalem is a sacred city for Jews, Christians and Muslims. King David chose it as the capital of the Kingdom of Israel some 3000 years ago. In Jerusalem, Jesus lived, died and rose again 2000 years ago. In Jerusalem, according to the Koranic tradition, about 1400 years ago Mohammed made a mystical journey to heaven.
The Coalition government of Sitiveni Rabuka should seriously consider moving Fiji's capital back from Suva to Levuka.
The Coalition government of Sitiveni Rabuka should seriously consider moving Fiji's capital back from Suva to Levuka.
