ISRAEL says Fiji’s neutral and highly skilled military could play a valuable role in future peacekeeping efforts once negotiations on Gaza’s next phase are complete.
The indication came as Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel said discussions between Israel, the United States and Arab nations would determine the structure and participants of any peacekeeping arrangement.
“I have to say that we do trust the Fijian forces,” Ms Haskel said during a joint press conference with Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka in Suva yesterday.
“We know that you have very skilled military forces that are neutral, which is something especially important for peacekeeping,” she said.
“We know this is a force you can trust, with skills, with morals and we’ve had close collaboration throughout history in many posts around the Middle East and surrounding our borders as well.”
She said the current situation in Gaza was “related to a peacekeeping effort” but added that it was “not going to be addressed through the United Nations”.
“It’s important to say that the full negotiation for the second stage has not yet started – that will be determined largely by the Americans.”
“In the next few days, conversations will begin between Israel and the United States. Vice President JD Vance is currently in Israel to start these talks.”
“From Israel’s perspective, the Fijian force can contribute a lot, but we will wait for the outcome of those talks.”
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka said Fiji remained ready to assist in any international efforts toward resolving the Gaza conflict.
“We have been present in your part of the world since 1978 as United Nations peacekeepers, and since 1982 as part of the agreement between Egypt and Israel sponsored by the United States of America.
“Looking at developments in Gaza, there may again be a similar arrangement coming up for resolution of that problem, and we stand ready to help in whichever way we can.”
Expertise a ‘great opportunity’
PRIME Minister Sitiveni Rabuka says Fiji’s partnership with Israel will extend beyond cyber security to include collaboration in agriculture, renewable energy and water management.
Speaking at a joint press conference in Suva yesterday with Israel’s Deputy Foreign Israel Ambassador to Fiji and the Pacific Minister Sharren Haskel, Mr Rabuka said the cooperation would build on existing programs that have already benefited local students and farmers.
“Of course, discussions will even-tually come back to Cabinet, which will consider the various proposals from different ministries and take them forward,” Mr Rabuka said.
“I mentioned to the Madam Deputy Foreign Minister what I saw in Papua New Guinea — they have a project there that has transformed their agriculture. We’ve also had students from Navuso who trained in Israel and have since returned.
It’s an area we will continue to take advantage of. It’s a great opportunity for Fiji, not only for our own security but also for our development potential that we have not yet fully used.”
Ms Haskel said she was accompanied by a delegation of Israeli business representatives specialising in agriculture, water technology and renewable energy who were exploring investment opportunities in Fiji.
“It’s important for me to say I came with a business delegation of Israeli businessmen who deal with agriculture and water technology,” she said.
“They’re now seeking opportunities here, and the Prime Minister and the government were very gracious in creating an environment for them to learn how to do business in Fiji.”
She said the team had met with Investment Fiji to discuss potential projects and partnerships.
“There are incredible examples in Papua New Guinea – from being a country that imported most of its agricultural needs, today it can rely on itself through partnerships with Israeli companies that built large-scale farms and production facilities, and even export agricultural goods,” she said.
“This is something we’re starting now here with different companies, and we seek to continue and expand it.”
Ms Haskel said the projects would also include capacity building programs to help develop local expertise.
“Through these companies, there’s a lot of training – to create local businesses, local agricultural enterprises, and local farms.
“We want to help the Fijian community as much as they’ve been helping us, and to share this love and appreciation to strengthen the bonds between us.”
Focus on farming, women, water
ISRAEL’S Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel says her government is deepening cooperation with Fiji beyond diplomacy and defence, focusing on trade, agriculture, water technology, healthcare, and women’s empowerment.
Ms Haskel, who arrived in Suva with a delegation of Israeli business representatives, said the visit aimed to build stronger economic and people-to-people partnerships between the two countries.
“The business delegation here is trying to expand collaboration in various fields, including agriculture, water, healthcare, women’s empowerment, and security as well,” she said.
“We love the Fijian people, and the Fijian people love us. It’s an opportunity to thank every single one of them for the prayers they’ve been sending to Jerusalem and Israel – we felt it, and it gives us strength and courage to continue our mission.”
She said Israel had expanded its agricultural internship program for Fijians and was launching new initiatives to help women develop leadership and entrepreneurial skills.
“Israel is bringing to Fiji a course for women’s empowerment, to give them skills, whether in technology, business leadership, or other forms of female leadership.
“We’ve expanded the agricultural internship for Fijians coming to Israel to do an 11-month program to gain skills, connections, and investment capital to help them build their own farms or agricultural ventures when they return home.”
Ms Haskel said the programs reflected Israel’s long-term commitment to supporting Fiji’s social and economic growth.
“It’s a great honour and a pleasure for me to be here, to personally thank you, your government, and the Fijian people as well.”
Israel thanks Fiji for support
ISRAEL’S Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel has thanked Fiji for its unwavering support and friendship during what she described as “one of the most difficult periods” in Israel’s recent history.
Speaking alongside Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka in Suva yesterday, Ms Haskel conveyed messages of gratitude from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Israel Katz, acknowledging Fiji’s solidarity and decision to open an embassy in Jerusalem.
“I reiterated a message from Jerusalem from Prime Minister Netanyahu and from the Foreign Minister to thank you for your moral clarity and your courage, standing beside us during the last two years, which was one of the most difficult periods of time that we’ve experienced since the foundation of Israel,” she said.
“We don’t take it for granted, and it takes great courage to stand under a lot of pressure.
“We know we have true friends and true allies here in Fiji, and we’re extremely grateful for that.”
Ms Haskel said Israel deeply appreciated Fiji’s recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and its acknowledgment of the Jewish people as “the indigenous people of the land of Israel”.
“I thank you personally from the bottom of my heart, from the people of Israel, for opening your embassy in Jerusalem.
“Declaring and stating the obvious – that the Jewish people are the indigenous people of the land of Israel and that their capital, Jerusalem, is part of their identity from cultural, religious, and diplomatic perspectives for thousands of years means a lot to us.”
