By: Fern Sidman

In a move described by Israeli officials as a “historic and courageous decision,” Fiji will inaugurate its embassy in Jerusalem on September 17, with Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka personally attending the ceremony, according to an announcement from Israel’s Foreign Ministry this week. The decision, reported on Wednesday in The Times of Israel, places Fiji among a small but growing group of nations that have formally recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital through the establishment of embassies in the city.

The embassy opening marks a significant development in Israel’s diplomatic outreach to the Pacific. As The Times of Israel report highlighted, Fiji has long been a reliable partner of Israel in international forums, often supporting resolutions favorable to Jerusalem at the United Nations despite heavy pressure from larger blocs.

Prime Minister Rabuka, who rose to power in late 2022 at the helm of a three-party coalition, has deepened that alignment. His government includes the right-leaning, staunchly Christian Sodelpa Party, which has been a vocal supporter of Israel. One of Sodelpa’s key conditions for joining Rabuka’s coalition was the opening of an embassy in Jerusalem, underscoring the extent to which religious affinity and political conviction are driving Fiji’s foreign policy on this issue.

The decision did not occur in a vacuum. As The Times of Israel reported, Fiji’s embassy move follows a decades-long campaign spearheaded by the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ), an organization that has cultivated strong ties with church communities across the South Pacific. The ICEJ has consistently advocated for Christian-majority nations to take tangible steps in support of Israel, particularly through the recognition of Jerusalem as its capital.

In countries such as Fiji, where Christianity shapes much of the cultural and political identity, the ICEJ’s message has found receptive audiences. Churches and political leaders alike have framed support for Israel as a matter not only of international diplomacy but also of faith-based solidarity. This religious dimension sets Fiji apart from many Western nations, where embassy relocation debates tend to revolve around geopolitical considerations.

Israeli officials have warmly welcomed the announcement. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, in a statement carried in The Times of Israel, hailed Rabuka as a “Friend of Israel” and praised the Fijian leadership for standing on principle.

“I congratulate Fiji and its Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Friend of Israel Sitiveni Rabuka, on its decision to open an embassy in Israel, in Jerusalem, the eternal capital of the Jewish people,” Sa’ar declared. He emphasized that Israel remains committed to persuading additional nations to follow Fiji’s lead and relocate or establish embassies in Jerusalem.

The symbolism of Sa’ar’s statement was unmistakable: by situating its embassy in Jerusalem rather than Tel Aviv, Fiji affirms Israel’s longstanding position that Jerusalem is its undivided capital — a position that remains contentious in much of the international community.

Fiji will become the seventh country to maintain an embassy in Jerusalem, joining the United States, Guatemala, Honduras, Kosovo, Papua New Guinea and Paraguay.

As The Times of Israel observed, each of these countries has faced international criticism and, at times, diplomatic consequences for their recognition of Jerusalem. Nevertheless, their decisions reflect a broader pattern: a willingness among smaller or faith-driven nations to side with Israel, often in defiance of global consensus.

For Israel, each additional embassy in Jerusalem bolsters its claim to the city and signals cracks in the long-standing international refusal to formally recognize Jerusalem as the capital outside of final-status peace negotiations.

Fiji’s move is likely to reverberate beyond its borders. Other South Pacific nations — notably Vanuatu, Tonga, and the Solomon Islands — share Fiji’s Christian heritage and have historically demonstrated strong pro-Israel sentiment in the United Nations General Assembly. Analysts cited by The Times of Israel suggest that Fiji’s embassy could inspire these states to reconsider their own diplomatic positions vis-à-vis Jerusalem.

At the same time, the move could deepen tensions with Arab and Muslim-majority countries that view such recognitions as undermining Palestinian claims to East Jerusalem as the capital of a future Palestinian state. Historically, Pacific Island nations have not been major targets of Arab diplomatic retaliation, given their geographic distance and limited economic weight. Still, Fiji’s decision will be closely watched by regional organizations and international partners.

For Rabuka, the embassy opening also carries domestic significance. His coalition government relies on the support of Sodelpa, whose leaders have championed stronger ties with Israel. By delivering on this promise, Rabuka shores up his coalition while simultaneously enhancing Fiji’s global profile.

As The Times of Israel report noted, Rabuka has cultivated a reputation as both a pragmatic leader and a man of faith. His presence in Jerusalem for the embassy opening underscores his personal commitment to the move and ensures that it will resonate symbolically with his domestic base.

The Fijian announcement is part of Israel’s broader strategy to expand its diplomatic recognition of Jerusalem. Since the U.S. Embassy moved to Jerusalem in 2018 under the first administration of President Trump, Israel has sought to leverage that precedent to persuade additional states to follow suit. While progress has been slow, each new embassy represents a hard-won victory in Israel’s long campaign to normalize international recognition of its capital.

As The Times of Israel report highlighted, Israeli leaders view these moves not only as diplomatic achievements but also as moral victories. They demonstrate that, despite international pressure, there are nations willing to stand with Israel on one of its most sensitive and contested issues.

The embassy’s opening on September 17 will be a highly symbolic event. Expect a celebratory atmosphere in Jerusalem, with Israeli leaders likely to frame the occasion as proof of Israel’s growing international legitimacy. For Rabuka, the visit is an opportunity to elevate Fiji’s global standing and reinforce his government’s identity as one rooted in faith and principle.

Yet the move also underscores the enduring fault lines in global diplomacy over Jerusalem. As The Times of Israel has repeatedly reported, the majority of the international community continues to withhold recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, insisting that the city’s status must be resolved through negotiations with the Palestinians. Fiji’s decision, like those of the six countries before it, directly challenges that position.

Fiji’s decision to open an embassy in Jerusalem represents more than a diplomatic adjustment; it is a statement of principle, faith, and solidarity. It affirms Fiji’s alignment with Israel at a time of ongoing geopolitical strain and deepens the narrative that Jerusalem’s recognition is slowly expanding, one embassy at a time.

As The Times of Israel report emphasized, this is a triumph not only for Israeli diplomacy but also for the grassroots advocacy of organizations like the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, which have worked tirelessly for decades to make such moments possible.

On September 17, when the Fijian flag is raised in Jerusalem, it will symbolize not just a bilateral relationship but a broader shift in how small nations, driven by conviction, are willing to challenge international norms to stand with Israel in its eternal capital.