PM Still Supports Israel's Right to Defend Itself

Fiji will continue to support Israel's right to defend itself, says Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka.

Mr Rabuka's bold stance follows widespread outcry over Fiji's staunch support, standing as one of only two nations championing Israel's sovereignty amid proceedings at a global court on the Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands, including East Jerusalem, since 1967.

The other state besides Fiji defending Israel is the United States of America.

Prime Minister Rabuka said: "They have the right to defend themselves against unwarranted hostilities launched on Israel in October last year by the Hamas group."

The days-long proceedings at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague come as Israel continues its devastating war on Gaza.

International media reports have reported that more than 28,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel declared war on October 7, with 1410 Israeli casualties recorded.

Al Jazeera reported that the court will hear from 52 countries and three organisations on the legal consequences of Israel’s occupation of the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem.

Minister Sitiveni Rabuka. Photo: Leon Lord

Peacekeeping 

Meanwhile, some Fijians familiar with Fiji’s peacekeeping obligations in Sinai, Golan Heights, Iraq, and other parts of the Middle East are cautious about Fiji’s stance.

A former peacekeeping director said Fiji should have maintained its non-alignment position of “friends to all and enemy to none.”

This was the foreign policy stance popular when the FijiFirst Government was in power.

“Otherwise, the safety of our troops serving in the middle east will be compromised,” he said.

“They will become targets of Palestinians and will be put in a vulnerable position.”

Feedback: inoke.rabonu@fijisun.com.fj

https://poll.app.do/embed/fiji-s-current-inflation-levels-in-2024