Israel–Papua New Guinea relations

Israel–Papua New Guinea relations are bilateral relations between Israel and Papua New Guinea. Israel and Papua New Guinea established diplomatic relations in 1978, about three years after Papua New Guinea was granted independence.^[1]

History

On September 5, 2023, the Papua New Guinea embassy in Jerusalem was inaugurated in a ceremony attended by the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea James Marape and the Prime Minister of Israel Benyamin Netanyahu.^[2]

Israel's ambassador to Australia acts as non-resident ambassador to Papua New Guinea. Since 2007, Ya'akov Weiss has been the Honorary Consul General of Papua New Guinea to Israel, and acts as the diplomatic representative of Papua New Guinea to Israel.^[3]

In November 2012, the Papua New Guinea government abstained in the vote on United Nations General Assembly resolution 67/19 recognizing Palestine as a non-member state.

On a visit to Israel, in October 2013, Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, Peter O'Neill, planted a tree in Jerusalem. During the visit O'Neill stated: "Planting a tree symbolizes that the world has a future and that we all have life."^[4]^[5]

In 2020 Peter O'Neill was arrested by police in Port Moresby after allegations that he had purchased 2 generators from Israel without Parliamentary approval.^[6]^[7] But in October 2021 the Papua New Guinea courts acquitted the former Prime Minister from all charges.^[8]

Israel-Hamas war

On November 2, 2023, Papua New Guinea was among 15 countries voting against a humanitarian ceasefire in the 2023 Israel-Hamas war. 120 member states voted in favor and 45 abstained. Other countries Oceania, such as Fiji, Tonga, Papua New Guinea, Marshall Islands, Nauru, and Micronesia also voted against the ceasefire.

Te Ao Maori News claimed it "looks as though they’re aligning themselves with Israel and the United States".^[9] University of Canterbury professor Steven Ratuva claimed this was because of "the rise of evangelical movements in the region which are linked to the evangelical movements in the United States, which are in support of Trump, in support of Israel and Zionism generally". Ratuva also described their economic reliance on the United States as a factor in the decision.^[9]

On December 12, 2023, Papua New Guinea was again among the countries voting against an "immediate humanitarian ceasefire", the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, and "ensuring humanitarian access", in the UN General Assembly.^[10]

Cultural relations

There are claims that the Gogodala people in Western Province of Papua New Guinea are the descendants of a lost tribe of Israel.^[11] The claims have been analysed by Florida International University religious studies professor Tudor Parfitt.

The Huli culture of Hela people in Papua New Guinea is also reportedly similar to Jewish culture.^{[citation needed]}