The Fiji opposition party SODELPA has applauded the United States' decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital.
Candidates and volunteers of SODELPA Photo: Supplied
The party's leader Sitiveni Rabuka said the party also recognises Jerusalem as the capital and if it got into power it would move to strengthen relations with Israel especially in the areas of agriculture and IT.
Mr Rabuka who instigated two coups in Fiji in 1987 pointed out that Israel set up its embassy in Suva after that year when other countries were scaling back their diplomatic dealings with Fiji.
He said Israel also supplied M16 rifles when the US stopped and Israel gave Fiji four patrol boats when Australia excluded Fiji from a programme to supply patrol boats.
"The Prime Minister of Israel (Benjamin) Netanyahu has said, peace is not possible without recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Further, it is a fact that Jerusalem is the capital that the Jews, established in ancient times," said Mr Rabuka.
The U.S. President Donald Trump broke from decades of United States policy with his announcement on Jerusalem two months ago.
Fiji is currently represented by a consulate in Tel Aviv.