Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections to Nauru
Nauru (Naoero): relations with "Israel" since 1994, recognition of Jerusalem in 2019, its Jerusalem embassy (2026), Israeli medical aid, and its UN votes
Nauru, which now calls itself Naoero,[1] established relations with "Israel" in 1994.[2] It recognised Jerusalem as Israel's capital in 2019,[3] and in September 2026 it opened an embassy in Jerusalem, the third Pacific Islands Forum member to do so.[1]
Israeli state and commercial ties
Diplomacy
The Israeli foreign ministry's 2011 list of missions records relations with Nauru as established in December 1994, with "Israel" represented by a non-resident ambassador based at the foreign ministry in Jerusalem.[2]
The Israeli foreign ministry said in July 2026 that Nauru's cabinet had decided to open an embassy in Jerusalem following an agreement between the Israeli foreign minister Gideon Sa'ar and Nauru's vice-president and foreign minister Lionel Aingimea in Fiji in June. It described Nauru as one of Israel's most consistent supporters at the United Nations, said it had submitted a written statement supporting Israel in the proceedings against Israel at the International Court of Justice, and said it had recognised Jerusalem as Israel's capital in 2019.[3]
At the opening, Aingimea said: "We see opening an embassy here in Jerusalem not only as a strengthening of our ties with Israel, but also as a message to the world of where we stand." He added: "The United States stands at 93% of its votes supporting Israel, the Federated States of Micronesia at 88%, and Naoero at 71%. Mark my words: that 71% will increase very quickly."[4]
Aid
Sa'ar said that through MASHAV, Israel's development agency, Israeli emergency-care doctors would work with doctors in Naoero during 2026, and that "Israel" would provide medical equipment, including cardiac ultrasound equipment, and water-purification systems.[4]
Political interference
UN voting
According to 1News, Nauru voted against the General Assembly's October 2023 resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.[5] Nauru voted against the resolution of 12 December 2023 demanding an "immediate humanitarian ceasefire", according to The Diplomat.[6] 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.[7] In September 2024 it voted against the resolution demanding that "Israel" end its "unlawful presence" in the Occupied Palestinian Territory within 12 months.[8] Nauru voted against the September 2025 General Assembly resolution endorsing the New York Declaration on a two-state solution.[9]
See also
- Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections to Australia
- Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections to Fiji
- 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 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 'Easy decision': Naoero becomes third Pacific Islands Forum member with Jerusalem embassy RNZ, 10 September 2026, 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 Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Nauru to open embassy in Jerusalem embassies.gov.il, 21 July 2026, accessed 25 October 2026.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Naoero opens embassy in Jerusalem embassies.gov.il, September 2026, 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.
- ↑ Jonathan Yerushalmy, As censure increases over war in Gaza, Israel finds support among Pacific Islands The Guardian, 6 September 2025, 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).