Israel plans representative office in Papua New Guinea as FM Sa'ar concludes talks with prime minister

Foreign Minister Sa'ar expressed appreciation to Prime Minister Marape for continued backing of Israel and highlighted the 2023 decision to relocate Papua New Guinea's embassy to Jerusalem.

PAPUA NEW GUINEA Christian pilgrims take part in the annual support march for Israel in Jerusalem on the occasion of the Sukkot holiday organized by the International Christian Embassy and the Jerusalem municipality on October 15 2008.

(photo credit: Menahem Kahana/AFP via Getty Images)

ByTZVI JASPER

JUNE 10 2026 14:31

Updated: JUNE 10 2026 14:55

Israel will establish a representative office in Papua New Guinea Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar announced following discussions with Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape on Wednesday.

Sa'ar stated in a post on X that he thanked Marape for ongoing support and friendship toward Israel while specifically referencing the decision to relocate Papua New Guinea's embassy to Jerusalem in 2023.

"We will advance bilateral relations!" he declared.

Israel opens new embassy in Fiji

Israel has been strengthening ties with additional Pacific Island nations in recent times.

Earlier this month Sa'ar participated in the opening of Israel's new embassy in Fiji's capital Suva three decades after the prior facility closed.

"By opening Israel's embassy in Fiji we are continuing to expand Israel's diplomatic activity around the world in general and in the Pacific region in particular and sending a message of strengthening the partnerships and relations with countries that are friendly toward Israel" Sa'ar said before his visit to Suva.

Israel maintains full diplomatic relations with several other Pacific Island states including Micronesia Kiribati the Marshall Islands Nauru Palau Samoa the Solomon Islands Tonga Tuvalu and Vanuatu as well as non-UN member states the Cook Islands and Niue.

Shir Perets contributed to this report.