Israeli leaders welcomed President Baron Waqa of the Pacific island nation of Nauru to Jerusalem this week.
In a meeting with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin on Sunday, Waqa spoke of the productive technology-sharing relationship between their two nations and said he was “very pleased” to visit Jerusalem. “I want to show our solidarity to Israel and the people of Israel,” he added.
The relationship between Nauru and Israel is based in technological cooperation, most notably in the realm of advances in water purification. “Israel is proud that our water technologies are helping supply clean drinking water to people in Nauru,” Rivlin said.
The two presidents also reaffirmed their commitment to combating climate change, which poses a particular threat to Nauru.
“Together with Nauru, Israel sees the global struggle against climate change as a top priority,” Rivlin said. “We believe that more than the Earth belongs to us, we belong to the Earth, and we must do all we can to care for it, for our children and grandchildren.”
Waqa responded that his people “very much believe in Israel. We support Israel and we will continue to support Israel.”
“As long as we protect our existence, in a time when climate change is effecting the whole world, I know that with God’s help our friendship will continue to prosper even under such circumstances,” he added.
Prime Minister Netanyahu welcomed Waqa on Monday, calling him a “wonderful friend” and praising the “excellent relations” between their countries.
Nauru is not the only Pacific island nation to consistently stand by Israel. Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Palau joined Nauru as four of the nine countries who voted with Israel against a Palestinian statehood resolution in the United Nations in 2012. A 2013 article in Tablet Magazine attributed this support to the humanitarian activity of Israeli NGOs on these islands.
At the forefront of this NGO activity is MASHAV, Israel’s international development agency, which has led successful development projects in the South Pacific since 1958. In the February 2017 issue of The Tower Magazine, Seth Frantzman explained how MASHAV helps developing nations make the best use of their often limited resources. MASHAV deputy chief Yuval Fuchs told Frantzman that MASHAV’s advantage comes from the fact that it focuses on implementation. This means that “the countries have the ability to continue with MASHAV-generated projects long after the Israelis have left.”
[Photo: Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs ]