President Herzog and President Katonivere
President Herzog and President KatonivereAmos Ben Gershon/GPO

President Isaac Herzog held a diplomatic work meeting today with President Ratu Wiliame M. Katonivere of the Republic of Fiji. President Herzog greeted President Katonivere in the Ceremonial Plaza of the President’s Residence in Jerusalem, after which the Fijian President signed the guest book in the Great Hall.

President Herzog and President Katonivere both expressed their desire to enhance and deepen the Israeli-Fijian relationship, with an emphasis on the potential use of Israeli environmental technologies and Israeli involvement in the field of food security.

President Herzog noted that the Tenth President of Israel, Reuven (Ruvi) Rivlin, visited Fiji for a summit of Pacific Island states two years ago. President Herzog thanked his Fijian counterpart for Fiji’s solid support for Israel in international forums and for its major contributions toward U.N. peacekeeping missions in the Middle East, which President Katonivere intends to meet during his visit, saying, “We have huge respect for your sons coming to serve in our region.”

President Herzog and his Fijian counterpart discussed at length the environmental challenges that Fiji is grappling with, including rising sea levels, reduced rainfall, and cyclones, and President Herzog expressed his grave concern at the unfolding consequences of the climate crisis.

The Presidents agreed to continue working to expand collaborative ventures between Israel and Fiji, and President Herzog expressed his hopes to deepen Israel’s relations with all nations in the South Pacific region.