Activist slams Pacific’s 'dreadful response' to Palestine amid growing relationships with Israel

As Israel expands its relationships with Pacific Island nations, an activist is criticising the region for its “dreadful response” to the Israel-Palestine conflict.

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict, rooted in the 1948 Arab-Israeli war and decades of disputed land and statehood, escalated after Hamas’ attacks on 7 October 2023.

Since then, Israel’s assault on Gaza has killed more than 63,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to Gaza health officials.

John Minto says the Pacific has failed to show adequate support to Palestine and should be “ashamed”.

In an interview with William Terite on Pacific Mornings, Minto says the Pacific is one of the few areas in the world where support for the Palestinians is diminishing.

“I think this is a real tragedy,” he says. “They are coming under pressure from the US and the pressure from Israel to try and bolster support for Israel at the United Nations. For this part of the world, that's something we should be ashamed of.”

Watch John Minto's full interview below

Minto says several island countries, including Fiji, Nauru, Palau, and Tonga, have refused to recognise Palestinian statehood. But bigger Pacific nations like Papua New Guinea have recently established an embassy in Jerusalem.

Fiji and Israel established diplomatic relations in 1970 and have developed partnerships in security, peacekeeping, agriculture, and climate change.

James Marape, left, and Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on 6 September 2023. Photo/Supplied/The Prime Minister of Israel

In a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, Israel’s Foreign Ministry announced its commitment ot diplomacy in the Pacific.

Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Sharren Haskel, will lead a delegation to the Pacific to discuss strengthening Israel-Pacific relations.

The Pacific region has been one of Israel's strategic development partners, through numerous projects and training programmes led by MASHAV, Israel's International Development Agency,” the statement reads.

Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka (left) and Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (right) met in 2023. Photo/Supplied/Fiji Government

“This forthcoming visit, and the broader diplomatic effort accompanying it, reflects Israel’s profound appreciation for the Pacific Island states and underscores Israel’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with them.”

Minto highlights the irony in the support for Israel from small Pacific nations, given their reliance on principles of international law for their own vulnerability.

“I'm sure there's a lot of things that happen behind closed doors that should be happening out in the public,” he told Terite. “The people of Sāmoa, Tonga, Fiji should be involved in developing their foreign policy. I think if they were, then we would have much stronger support for Palestine.”