Papua New Guinea (PNG) is planning to become one of the few countries to open an embassy in Jerusalem.
It established diplomatic relations with Israel 45 years ago.
Until now PNG has had a consulate in Tel Aviv which will be upgraded to an embassy in Jerusalem later this year.
Israel Foreign Minister Eli Cohen called the embassy plan “further evidence of the warm and important relationship between the countries.”
PNG is one of the Pacific nations that regularly vote with Israel at the United Nations.
Its Foreign Minister Justin Tkachenko told Mr. Cohen that his country would continue to do so.
In December PNG was one of the 25 countries that joined Israel in opposing the UN General Assembly resolution requesting that the International Court of Justice weigh in on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
However, in 2018 it voted to condemn the US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, while five other Pacific nations rejected the condemnation.
The Times Of Israel reports Fiji could also open an embassy in Jerusalem.
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka is believed to back the plan, but he’ll need the support of his coalition partners to go ahead with it.
Most nations have their embassies in Tel Aviv for political reasons.
Only the US, Guatemala, Honduras and Kosovo have embassies in Jerusalem.
Eight major European countries maintain consulates-general in the city.
Read the article by Tom Davenport on Vision Christian Media.