ALBAWABA - Marking the fifth nation to maintain a diplomatic mission to Israel in Jerusalem, Papua New Guinea inaugurated its embassy in Jerusalem on Tuesday in a ceremony attended by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Papua New Guinean counterpart James Marape.
"Today is a milestone moment for my country Papua New Guinea," Marape said, "We are here to give respect to the people of Israel to the fullest".
Marape also added that Papua New Guinea opened its embassy in Jerusalem "because of our shared heritage, acknowledging the creator God, the Yahweh God of Israel, the Yahweh God of Isaac and Abraham,".
While most countries maintain their diplomatic representation in Tel Aviv, Papua New Guinea joined Kosovo, Guatemala, and Honduras in establishing their embassies in West Jerusalem.
"Many nations choose not to open their embassies in Jerusalem but we made the conscious choice. This has been the universal capital of the nation and the people of Israel. For us to call ourselves Christians, paying respect to God will not be complete without recognizing that Jerusalem is the universal capital of the people and nation of Israel" Maeape stated.
"This will not only enable us to cherish the past but also to seize the future. I'm impressed by the great potential that you have and that you are building in Papua New Guinea. Papua New Guinea is a big country with big opportunities" Netanyahu stated.
Marape additionally pledged UN support for Israel, whose prime minister, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, attended the embassy opening in an escape from failed regional peacemaking and cloudy ties with Washington.
Israel and Papua New Guinea relations
According to Israel's Channel 14, Israel recently provided Papua New Guinea with agricultural, medical, and humanitarian aid. Papua New Guinea established diplomatic ties with Israel in 1978, three years after the Pacific nation gained independence from Australia.
