Israel is preparing to open a resident embassy in Suva, Fiji, with Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar making the trip to the Pacific island nation. This development follows Fiji's establishment of an embassy in Jerusalem last year, which placed it among a select group of countries with diplomatic missions in Israel's capital. The decision to open the embassy in Fiji was approved by the Fijian Cabinet in March, highlighting the two nations' commitment to enhancing cooperation in areas such as security, climate change, and agriculture. The relationship, which dates back to 1970, has seen Israel providing development assistance to Fiji. The new embassy is expected to solidify Israel's diplomatic presence in the Pacific, a region increasingly of interest to global powers. However, Fiji's decision to open an embassy in Jerusalem has faced criticism from Palestinian officials, who argue it complicates the disputed status of the city. Despite this, Fiji's government maintains that its foreign policy reflects its sovereign interests and longstanding ties with Israel.