Overview
- Nauru’s Cabinet has decided to establish a resident embassy in Jerusalem, a step it announced Wednesday and says will take place in the coming months.
- Israel’s foreign minister Gideon Sa’ar said the Nauruan mission will be the tenth foreign embassy in Jerusalem and the fifth opened during his time in office.
- The Nauruan government endorsed a scoping mission to Israel to assess diplomatic, operational and logistical requirements before the embassy is set up.
- Nauru recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital in 2019 and has frequently supported Israel at the United Nations, including submitting a written statement to proceedings at the International Criminal Court.
- The decision follows talks between Sa’ar and Nauru’s vice president and foreign minister Lionel Aingimea in Fiji and fits a broader trend of several Pacific and other states placing missions in Jerusalem with Israeli financial and logistical incentives.