Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections to Fiji
Fiji: the small Jewish community in Suva, relations with "Israel" since 1970, Fiji's embassy in Jerusalem (2025) and Israel's embassy in Suva (2026), cybersecurity and agricultural cooperation, and Fiji's UN votes
Fiji has a small Jewish community, almost all of it in Suva, dating from the arrival of Henry Marks from Australia in 1881, according to the World Jewish Congress (WJC).[1] Fiji established relations with "Israel" in 1970.[2] On 17 September 2025 it opened an embassy in Jerusalem, inaugurated by Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka and Benjamin Netanyahu,[3] and on 2 June 2026 "Israel" opened an embassy in Suva.[4]
Jewish community and religious life
History
According to the WJC, nearly all Jews in Fiji live in Suva. Henry Marks, who arrived from Australia aged 20 in 1881, founded what became one of the largest commercial enterprises in the Western Pacific, and was later joined by Jews from India and elsewhere. The WJC says there was no organised Jewish life until the recent creation of the Fiji Jewish Association, and that religious life has been confined to a communal seder organised by the Israeli embassy and attended by 50 to 60 people.[1]
Communal organisations
Fiji Jewish Association, Carpenter Street, P.O. Box 882 GPO, Suva.[1]
Israeli state and commercial ties
Diplomacy
The Israeli foreign ministry's 2011 list of missions records relations with Fiji as established in August 1970, with "Israel" represented by its ambassador in Australia.[2] The WJC lists an Israeli embassy address at 69 Parade Building, Joske Street, P.O. Box 15249, Suva.[1]
On 17 September 2025 Rabuka and Netanyahu inaugurated Fiji's resident embassy in Jerusalem. Rabuka said that "the people of Fiji share a very close religious and cultural connection to the Holy Land. We deeply value your great nation, which is the birthplace of Christianity."[3] ABC Pacific reported that Fiji was the second Pacific nation, and the seventh in the world, with a permanent diplomatic presence in the city, and that the decision had drawn criticism from opposition parties and non-governmental organisations over Israeli actions in Gaza.[5] Netanyahu told Rabuka: "We [are] brothers, we help one another."[6] According to Inside Story, the NGO Coalition on Human Rights accused Rabuka of "callously ignoring the unfolding famine and mass starvation in Gaza", and in February 2025 Fiji's permanent representative to the United Nations, Filipo Tarakinikini, urged the International Court of Justice to refuse the General Assembly's request for an advisory opinion on the legality of Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories.[7]
On 22 October 2025 the Israeli deputy foreign minister Sharren Haskel visited Fiji, and Fiji and Israel's National Cyber Directorate signed a memorandum of understanding on digital security and cybersecurity. The Fijian foreign ministry said the two sides would expand agricultural internships for young Fijians at the Arava International Center for Agricultural Training (AICAT) in "Israel".[8]
On 2 June 2026 the Israeli foreign minister Gideon Sa'ar attended the opening of the Israeli embassy in Suva, headed by Ambassador Maya Yaron.[4] ABC Pacific called it Israel's "first embassy in Fiji",[9] while The Jerusalem Post reported that it opened 30 years after the previous Israeli embassy was closed, and that it would also serve nine other countries in the region.[10] ABC Pacific reported that pro-Palestinian protesters gathered outside.[9]
Trade
The Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics reports that "Israel" imported goods worth $0.0 million from Fiji in 2025 (2024: $0.0 million) and exported goods worth $0.2 million to it (2024: $0.3 million).[11]
Public support
The Guardian reported that Israeli flags are displayed in Fiji "at churches, protests, outside schools and even at rugby games", and that demonstrators have at times been refused permission to march in support of Palestine.[12]
Political interference
UN voting
According to 1News, Fiji voted against the General Assembly's October 2023 resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.[13] Fiji voted for the resolution of 12 December 2023 demanding an "immediate humanitarian ceasefire", according to The Diplomat.[14] The Guardian listed it among the 12 states that voted against a later General Assembly resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire, which passed with 149 votes in favour.[12] In September 2024 it voted against the resolution demanding that "Israel" end its "unlawful presence" in the Occupied Palestinian Territory within 12 months.[15] Fiji abstained on the September 2025 General Assembly resolution endorsing the New York Declaration on a two-state solution.[16]
See also
- Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections to Australia
- Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections to Kiribati
- Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections to the Marshall Islands
- Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections to the Federated States of Micronesia
- Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections to Nauru
- Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections to New Zealand
- Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections to Palau
- Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections to Papua New Guinea
- Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections to Samoa
- Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections to the Solomon Islands
- Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections to Tonga
- Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections to Tuvalu
- Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections to Vanuatu
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 World Jewish Congress, Community in Fiji worldjewishcongress.org, accessed 25 October 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Diplomatic Missions Abroad: Status of relations mfa.gov.il, archived 5 August 2011.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Fiji), Prime Minister Rabuka meets Prime Minister Netanyahu: Fiji – Israel Bilateral relations further strengthened foreignaffairs.gov.fj, 17 September 2025, accessed 25 October 2026.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Fiji), The State of Israel Opens Its Embassy in Fiji foreignaffairs.gov.fj, 3 June 2026, accessed 25 October 2026.
- ↑ Fiji opens embassy in Jerusalem, becoming second Pacific nation with permanent diplomatic presence ABC Pacific, 17 September 2025, accessed 25 October 2026.
- ↑ 'Brothers' Netanyahu and Rabuka defy criticism to open Fiji's embassy in Jerusalem RNZ, 18 September 2025, accessed 25 October 2026.
- ↑ Nic Maclellan, Palestine and the Pacific Inside Story, 7 October 2025, accessed 25 October 2026.
- ↑ Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Fiji), PM Rabuka meets Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister – Strengthening Fiji – Israel Relations foreignaffairs.gov.fj, 23 October 2025, accessed 25 October 2026.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Israel opens embassy in Fiji's capital ABC Pacific, 3 June 2026, accessed 25 October 2026.
- ↑ Shir Perets, 'A historic step': Sa'ar attends opening of Fiji's new Israel embassy after 30 years The Jerusalem Post, 2 June 2026, accessed 25 October 2026.
- ↑ Central Bureau of Statistics (Israel), Foreign Trade Statistics Monthly, Table D1: Trade Countries – Imports and Exports CBS, December 2025 issue (library copy).
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Jonathan Yerushalmy, As censure increases over war in Gaza, Israel finds support among Pacific Islands The Guardian, 6 September 2025, accessed 25 October 2026.
- ↑ Indira Stewart, Israel and the Pacific – a surprisingly close 'friendship' 1News, 10 March 2024, accessed 25 October 2026.
- ↑ Logan Green, Pacific Island States Continue Disproportionate Support of Israel at the UN The Diplomat, 16 December 2023, accessed 25 October 2026.
- ↑ UN outliers: 7 Pacific states vote against resolution to end Israel's 'unlawful presence' in Palestine RNZ, 19 September 2024, accessed 25 October 2026.
- ↑ United Nations General Assembly, Recorded vote on A/80/L.1/Rev.1: Endorsement of the New York Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, 12 September 2025 (copy hosted by Al-Quds Al-Arabi).