Fiji opens first embassy in Jerusalem

Fiji has officially opened its first permanent diplomatic mission in Jerusalem.

Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka presided over the inauguration ceremony on Wednesday, describing the move as a symbol of the close relationship between the two nations.

"I'd like to acknowledge the special bond and the enduring friendship and relationship that has existed between Fiji and the State of Israel," Rabuka said during the event, which was hosted at 'Israel’s' Foreign Ministry alongside Foreign Minister Gideon Saar.

The decision sets Fiji apart from most countries, which continue to base their embassies in Tel Aviv due to the contested status of Jerusalem. 'Israel' regards the city as its “eternal and undivided” capital, while the Palestinian Authority maintains that East Jerusalem, captured and annexed by 'Israel', should serve as the capital of a future Palestinian state.