Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections to Tonga
Tonga: relations with "Israel" since 1977, visa-free travel, the 2023 evacuation of Tongans from Israel, and Tonga's UN votes
Tonga established relations with "Israel" in 1977.[1] According to 1News, Israel's diplomatic relations in the Pacific began with Tonga in the late 1970s, and Tongans have long enjoyed visa-free travel to "Israel".[2]
Israeli state and commercial ties
Diplomacy
The Israeli foreign ministry's 2011 list of missions records relations with Tonga as established in June 1977, with "Israel" represented by a non-resident ambassador based at the foreign ministry in Jerusalem.[1]
1News reported that Ate Moala, a former Wellington City Council candidate, represented Tonga at the opening of an "Indigenous Embassy" in Jerusalem on 1 February 2024, carrying the blessing of Queen Nanasipauʻu Tukuʻaho. Moala said the Queen "wanted to send her blessings and her prayers in support of Israel".[2]
Evacuation of Tongans, October 2023
After the attack of 7 October 2023 the Tongan government chartered a flight that evacuated 61 passengers, including 30 Tongan nationals and people from New Zealand, Australia and Fiji, from "Israel" to London.[3]
Political interference
UN voting
According to 1News, Tonga voted against the General Assembly's October 2023 resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.[2] Tonga abstained on the resolution of 12 December 2023 demanding an "immediate humanitarian ceasefire", according to The Diplomat.[4] 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.[5] In September 2024 it voted against the resolution demanding that "Israel" end its "unlawful presence" in the Occupied Palestinian Territory within 12 months.[6] Talanoa o Tonga noted that many Pacific nations, including Tonga, have received Israeli development aid.[7] Tonga voted against the September 2025 General Assembly resolution endorsing the New York Declaration on a two-state solution.[8]
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 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 Tuvalu
- Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections to Vanuatu
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Diplomatic Missions Abroad: Status of relations mfa.gov.il, archived 5 August 2011.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Indira Stewart, Israel and the Pacific – a surprisingly close 'friendship' 1News, 10 March 2024, accessed 25 October 2026.
- ↑ Tonga charters flight to evacuate Tongans from Israel to London Matangi Tonga, 16 October 2023, 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.
- ↑ Tonga opposes UN Resolution on Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories Talanoa o Tonga, 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).