An Ocean of Peace is NOT Built on Occupation: Pacific Civil questions the Pacific Forum on Israel partnership

Friday 23rd October 2026 The Blue Pacific is our oceanic home. It is held together by a weave of shared values passed from our forebears’ hands into ours: justice, peace, self-determination and respect for international law. We, the members of the Pacific Regional Non-Governmental Organisations (PRNGO) Alliance, representing our diverse constituencies and mandated by them to promote and protect the interests of Pacific Island peoples, declare our deep concern at the admission of Israel as a partner of the Pacific Islands Forum. The decision taken by our leaders at the 55th Pacific Island Leaders Forum in Palau was announced by Israel, yet the Forum Secretariat has not issued a statement and has already hosted a MASHAV development cooperation Talanoa with Israel. We understand our communities’ real needs for water, food security, agriculture, development and climate adaptation.

The urgent need for resources across the region is increasing, and partnerships to secure such are important. Our concern is that the Forum family will welcome, without condition, a state in continuing breach of international law. We reject antisemitism, Islamophobia and anti-Arab racism, and mourn every civilian life lost, Israeli and Palestinian. UPHOLDING INTERNATIONAL LAW In its Advisory Opinion of 19 July 2024, the International Court of Justice found Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory unlawful. The ICJ stated that Israel must end it “as rapidly as possible” and evacuate all settlers, and all States must neither recognise it as lawful nor “render aid or assistance” in maintaining it. Our region championed the Court’s climate opinion of July 2025: relying on international law to work for our islands. We cannot invoke the Court for our islands and ignore it for Palestine. The…