Pacific Elders' Voice calls for reversal of Forum-Israel partnership

The Pacific Elders’ Voice (PEV) has called on the Pacific Islands Forum to review and reverse its recent decision to establish a sectoral partnership with Israel. The group, composed of former prime ministers, presidents, and senior diplomats, argues that the partnership conflicts with the region’s established commitments to human rights, self-determination, and international law.

PEV Chair and former Kiribati President Anote Tong stated that the decision is not ‘morally defensible.’ The group cited concerns regarding the conflict in Gaza, Israeli settlements in the West Bank, and reports of systematic occupation and forced displacement of Palestinians. The PEV noted that the Forum’s engagement with Israel creates inconsistencies with the Pacific’s own stances on decolonization and political status in territories such as Kanaky, French Polynesia, West Papua, and Bougainville.

The call for reversal is supported by various regional entities, including the Pacific Regional NGO Network, the Pacific Council of Churches, and the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre. The PEV also referenced a report by the global Elders Group, which included former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark, regarding Israeli government policies and the future of a two-state solution.