Israel – Micronesia relations
Encyclopedia
Israel – Micronesia relations are diplomatic
and other relations between the State of Israel
and the Federated States of Micronesia
. Israel was among the first countries to establish formal diplomatic relations with Micronesia.
The Jewish Virtual Library
describes Micronesia as a "close supporter of Israel", the only country other than the United States
to have "consistently opposed unbalanced anti-Israel resolutions" in the United Nations General Assembly
. Similarly, Ynetnews
states that, during Benjamin Netanyahu
's premiership, "apart from the automatic support we get from the United States, only the tiny nation of Micronesia was our true friend and supported whatever folly we had to offer". Other sources describe the FSM as Israel's "staunchest supporter" along with the United States and the Marshall Islands
. In return, Israel has provided health care assistance to Micronesia.
In 2000, during a State visit to Israel by Micronesian President
Leo A. Falcam, the two countries signed a "Protocol on Cooperation" to "give expression to the warm relations between the two states, and Israel's appreciation of the unreserved support it receives from Micronesia in the UN". In 2010, Micronesian President Emanuel Mori conducted another State visit to Israel. Greeting him, Israeli President
Shimon Peres
described Micronesia as "one of Israel's greatest friends". Mori explained to his counterpart "the vulnerability of Pacific islands to the impacts of climate change
". That same year, Peres thanked (non-resident) Micronesian Ambassador Yosiwo P. George for "his country's enduring friendship and 'outstanding' support": "I don't know the size of your country, but I know the size of your friendship." Ambassador George replied that Micronesia and Israel shared "values and interests". He asked Israel for technical and economic assistance, as well as medical training programmes, which Peres promised to supply. Israel also supplies Micronesia with experts on citrus crops and irrigation techniques, medical technicians, and scholarships to Israeli colleges.
Micronesia is a former United Nations Trust Territory
administered by the United States. It became sovereign in 1986 through a Compact of Free Association
, which establishes mutual economic and defence responsibilities between the two countries. The Marshall Islands and Palau
-the other two countries which consistently support Israel at the United Nations- are also former U.S. territories bound by the Compact.
Diplomacy
Diplomacy is the art and practice of conducting negotiations between representatives of groups or states...
and other relations between the State of Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
and the Federated States of Micronesia
Federated States of Micronesia
The Federated States of Micronesia or FSM is an independent, sovereign island nation, made up of four states from west to east: Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosrae. It comprises approximately 607 islands with c...
. Israel was among the first countries to establish formal diplomatic relations with Micronesia.
The Jewish Virtual Library
Jewish Virtual Library
Jewish Virtual Library is an online encyclopedia published by the American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise . Established in 1993, it is a comprehensive website covering Israel, the Jewish people, and Jewish culture.-History:...
describes Micronesia as a "close supporter of Israel", the only country other than the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to have "consistently opposed unbalanced anti-Israel resolutions" in the United Nations General Assembly
United Nations General Assembly
For two articles dealing with membership in the General Assembly, see:* General Assembly members* General Assembly observersThe United Nations General Assembly is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations and the only one in which all member nations have equal representation...
. Similarly, Ynetnews
Ynetnews
Ynetnews is the online English language Israeli news website of Yedioth Ahronoth, Israel’s most-read newspaper, and the Hebrew Israel news portal, Ynet...
states that, during Benjamin Netanyahu
Benjamin Netanyahu
Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu is the current Prime Minister of Israel. He serves also as the Chairman of the Likud Party, as a Knesset member, as the Health Minister of Israel, as the Pensioner Affairs Minister of Israel and as the Economic Strategy Minister of Israel.Netanyahu is the first and, to...
's premiership, "apart from the automatic support we get from the United States, only the tiny nation of Micronesia was our true friend and supported whatever folly we had to offer". Other sources describe the FSM as Israel's "staunchest supporter" along with the United States and the Marshall Islands
Marshall Islands
The Republic of the Marshall Islands , , is a Micronesian nation of atolls and islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, just west of the International Date Line and just north of the Equator. As of July 2011 the population was 67,182...
. In return, Israel has provided health care assistance to Micronesia.
In 2000, during a State visit to Israel by Micronesian President
President of the Federated States of Micronesia
The following is a list of the Presidents of the Federated States of Micronesia:-See also:*High Commissioner of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands...
Leo A. Falcam, the two countries signed a "Protocol on Cooperation" to "give expression to the warm relations between the two states, and Israel's appreciation of the unreserved support it receives from Micronesia in the UN". In 2010, Micronesian President Emanuel Mori conducted another State visit to Israel. Greeting him, Israeli President
President of Israel
The President of the State of Israel is the head of state of Israel. The position is largely an apolitical ceremonial figurehead role, with the real executive power lying in the hands of the Prime Minister. The current president is Shimon Peres who took office on 15 July 2007...
Shimon Peres
Shimon Peres
GCMG is the ninth President of the State of Israel. Peres served twice as the eighth Prime Minister of Israel and once as Interim Prime Minister, and has been a member of 12 cabinets in a political career spanning over 66 years...
described Micronesia as "one of Israel's greatest friends". Mori explained to his counterpart "the vulnerability of Pacific islands to the impacts of climate change
Climate change
Climate change is a significant and lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years. It may be a change in average weather conditions or the distribution of events around that average...
". That same year, Peres thanked (non-resident) Micronesian Ambassador Yosiwo P. George for "his country's enduring friendship and 'outstanding' support": "I don't know the size of your country, but I know the size of your friendship." Ambassador George replied that Micronesia and Israel shared "values and interests". He asked Israel for technical and economic assistance, as well as medical training programmes, which Peres promised to supply. Israel also supplies Micronesia with experts on citrus crops and irrigation techniques, medical technicians, and scholarships to Israeli colleges.
Micronesia is a former United Nations Trust Territory
United Nations Trust Territories
United Nations trust territories were the successors of the remaining League of Nations mandates and came into being when the League of Nations ceased to exist in 1946. All of the trust territories were administered through the UN Trusteeship Council...
administered by the United States. It became sovereign in 1986 through a Compact of Free Association
Compact of Free Association
The Compact of Free Association defines the relationship that three sovereign states—the Federated States of Micronesia , the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Republic of Palau—have entered into as associated states with the United States.Now sovereign nations, the three freely associated...
, which establishes mutual economic and defence responsibilities between the two countries. The Marshall Islands and Palau
Palau
Palau , officially the Republic of Palau , is an island nation in the Pacific Ocean, east of the Philippines and south of Tokyo. In 1978, after three decades as being part of the United Nations trusteeship, Palau chose independence instead of becoming part of the Federated States of Micronesia, a...
-the other two countries which consistently support Israel at the United Nations- are also former U.S. territories bound by the Compact.
Examples of votes in the UN
- On July 7, 1998, the General Assembly adopted Resolution 52/250, granting Palestine "additional rights and privileges of participation in the sessions and work of the General Assembly". The resolution was adopted by 124 votes to 4, with 10 abstentions. The countries which voted against were the Federated States of Micronesia, Israel, the Marshall Islands and the United States.
- On July 20, 2004, the General Assembly Plenary Tenth Emergency Special Session “voted overwhelmingly to demand that Israel heed [the] advisory opinion of the International Court of JusticeInternational Court of JusticeThe International Court of Justice is the primary judicial organ of the United Nations. It is based in the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands...
(ICJ) to halt construction on its security barrier in the West BankIsraeli West Bank barrierThe Israeli West Bank barrier is a separation barrier being constructed by the State of Israel along and within the West Bank. Upon completion, the barrier’s total length will be approximately...
, tear down the portions built on Palestinian landIsraeli-occupied territoriesThe Israeli-occupied territories are the territories which have been designated as occupied territory by the United Nations and other international organizations, governments and others to refer to the territory seized by Israel during the Six-Day War of 1967 from Egypt, Jordan, and Syria...
, and provide reparations to Palestinians whose lives have been harmed by the wall”. The Assembly adopted the motion by 150 votes in favour to 6 against, with 10 abstentions. Those voting against were AustraliaAustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, the Federated States of Micronesia, Israel, the Marshall Islands, Palau and the United States. - On December 18, 2009, the General Assembly adopted a resolution “reaffirm(ing) the right of the Palestinian peoplePalestinian peopleThe Palestinian people, also referred to as Palestinians or Palestinian Arabs , are an Arabic-speaking people with origins in Palestine. Despite various wars and exoduses, roughly one third of the world's Palestinian population continues to reside in the area encompassing the West Bank, the Gaza...
to self-determination, including the right to their independent State of Palestine”, by 171 votes to 6. Those voting against were the Federated States of Micronesia, Israel, the Marshall Islands, NauruNauruNauru , officially the Republic of Nauru and formerly known as Pleasant Island, is an island country in Micronesia in the South Pacific. Its nearest neighbour is Banaba Island in Kiribati, to the east. Nauru is the world's smallest republic, covering just...
, Palau and the United States. It was one of a series of such resolutions in December 2009, on which Micronesia consistently cast one of the few dissenting votes.
See also
- International recognition of IsraelInternational recognition of IsraelThe recognition of Israel in the international community remains an outstanding issue of the Arab–Israeli conflict. Pursuant to the United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine, which provided for the establishment of a Jewish state, Israel declared its independence at midnight on 14 May 1948...
- Israel – Marshall Islands relationsIsrael – Marshall Islands relationsIsrael – Marshall Islands relations are diplomatic and other relations between the Israel and the Marshall Islands.The Marshall Islands is one of only a few countries to consistently support Israel in the United Nations, and thus share excellent relations. Israel gives the Marshall Islands aid in...
- Israel–Palau relationsIsrael–Palau relationsIsrael – Palau relations are diplomatic and other relations between the State of Israel and the Republic of Palau.Israel and Palau share very close relations, given that Palau is one of only a few countries to consistently support Israel in the United Nations. Israel gives Palau aid in return for...