Geography Bot: New page: Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections (Oceania B5); every reference checked

2026-10-25T11:40:57Z

New page: Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections (Oceania B5); every reference checked

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{{Zionist movement sidebar}}
{{short description|'''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.<ref name="MFA2011">Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, [https://web.archive.org/web/20110805075305/http://www.mfa.gov.il/mfa/about%20the%20ministry/diplomatic%20missions/Israel-s%20Diplomatic%20Missions%20Abroad Diplomatic Missions Abroad: Status of relations] ''mfa.gov.il'', archived 5 August 2011.</ref> 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".<ref name="OneNews2024">Indira Stewart, [https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/03/10/israel-and-the-pacific-a-surprisingly-close-friendship/ Israel and the Pacific – a surprisingly close 'friendship'] ''1News'', 10 March 2024, accessed 25 October 2026.</ref>

==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.<ref name="MFA2011" />

''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".<ref name="OneNews2024" />

===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.<ref name="MatangiTonga2023">[https://matangitonga.to/2023/10/16/tonga-charters-flight-evacuate-tongans-israel-london Tonga charters flight to evacuate Tongans from Israel to London] ''Matangi Tonga'', 16 October 2023, accessed 25 October 2026.</ref>

==Political interference==
===UN voting===
According to ''1News'', Tonga voted against the General Assembly's October 2023 resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.<ref name="OneNews2024" /> Tonga abstained on the resolution of 12 December 2023 demanding an "immediate humanitarian ceasefire", according to ''The Diplomat''.<ref name="Diplomat2023">Logan Green, [https://thediplomat.com/2023/12/pacific-island-states-continue-disproportionate-support-of-israel-at-the-un/ Pacific Island States Continue Disproportionate Support of Israel at the UN] ''The Diplomat'', 16 December 2023, accessed 25 October 2026.</ref> ''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.<ref name="Guardian2025">Jonathan Yerushalmy, [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/sep/06/as-censure-increases-over-war-in-gaza-israel-finds-support-among-pacific-islands As censure increases over war in Gaza, Israel finds support among Pacific Islands] ''The Guardian'', 6 September 2025, accessed 25 October 2026.</ref> In September 2024 it voted against the resolution demanding that "Israel" end its "unlawful presence" in the Occupied Palestinian Territory within 12 months.<ref name="RNZ2024">[https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/pacific/528419/un-outliers-7-pacific-states-vote-against-resolution-to-end-israel-s-unlawful-presence-in-palestine UN outliers: 7 Pacific states vote against resolution to end Israel's 'unlawful presence' in Palestine] ''RNZ'', 19 September 2024, accessed 25 October 2026.</ref> ''Talanoa o Tonga'' noted that many Pacific nations, including Tonga, have received Israeli development aid.<ref name="Talanoa2024">[https://talanoaotonga.to/tonga-opposes-un-resolution-on-israels-occupation-of-palestinian-territories/ Tonga opposes UN Resolution on Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories] ''Talanoa o Tonga'', 19 September 2024, accessed 25 October 2026.</ref> Tonga voted against the September 2025 General Assembly resolution endorsing the New York Declaration on a two-state solution.<ref name="UNNY2025">United Nations General Assembly, [https://www.alquds.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Voting-rec-L.1-Rev.1.pdf 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'').</ref>

==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==
<references/>

[[Category:Zionist movement|Tonga]]
[[Category:Tonga]]
[[Category:Oceania|Tonga]]

Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections to Tonga - Revision history

Geography Bot: New page: Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections (Oceania B5); every reference checked