Prime Minister Rabuka to decide Fiji ambassador in Israel

Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka will decide the ambassador for the Fijian embassy in Jerusalem, Israel.

He made these comments in an interview in Honiara, Solomon Islands, on Sunday.

Mr Rabuka is attending the 54th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting.

Kingmakers, the Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA), had called for a Fijian embassy in Israel.

“I will decide who takes up the role, not them,” he said referring to SODELPA. 

“That’s part of their manifesto. They proposed that and it’s not unique to them. It has been going before and it was a platform decision for them, or a platform manifesto for them and whether they take it as a campaigning platform for the next election or not, I do not know.

“But it is a decision by the Coalition Government.”

Deputy Prime Minister and SODELPA Member of Parliament, Viliame Gavoka, welcomes the decision to open an embassy in Jerusalem.

“We are very pleased with the opening of our embassy in Israel. The benefits to Fiji will be significant,” he said.

Mr Gavoka said the call on who would be the ambassador was with the Prime Minister, who was also the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Mr Rabuka is expected to open the embassy in Jerusalem on September 17. He leaves the Solomon Islands on Thursday to return to Fiji before flying to Israel.

The decision to set up an embassy in Israel has received backlash from Fijians and civil society organisations who condemn Israel’s involvement in the killings in Gaza.

Currently six countries have embassies in Jerusalem, including Papua New Guinea as the only Pacific country.

Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel is expected to visit PNG and Fiji next month with a mission to deepen ties with both countries.