Nauru is a small island country in the central Pacific Ocean, situated in the Micronesian region. Covering approximately eight square miles, it is the world’s smallest island republic and one of its least populous countries. Nauru was annexed by Germany in 1888, administered by Australia, New Zealand, and Britain after World War I, and occupied by Japan during World War II. It became independent on January 31, 1968. The island’s economy was historically dominated by phosphate mining, which generated considerable wealth but left much of its interior environmentally degraded. Its population is predominantly Christian, a factor that has contributed to the country’s cultural and political affinity with Israel.
Nauru and Israel established diplomatic relations in 1994. The partnership became especially visible through Nauru’s voting record at the United Nations, where the Pacific island country repeatedly aligned with Israel and a small group of its supporters. In 2012, Nauru was one of nine countries that opposed upgrading the Palestinian delegation at the UN to non-member observer-state status. In December 2017, it voted against a resolution rejecting the United States’ recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
High-level exchanges reinforced the relationship. In January 2010, Nauruan President Marcus Stephen visited Israel with Foreign Minister Kieren Keke and UN Ambassador Marlene Moses. The delegation met President Shimon Peres, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, and other officials. Stephen also toured the Golan Heights and planted an olive tree in the Forest of Nations in Jerusalem.
President Baron Waqa visited Israel in June 2017 and met President Reuven Rivlin and Netanyahu. Waqa requested Israeli assistance in medical training, water management, waste treatment, and innovation. Israel subsequently allocated 20 scholarships for Nauruans through its international development agency, MASHAV, and offered agricultural, water, and kidney-medicine training. Later that year, Israel provided approximately $72,000 for a wastewater-treatment facility serving a Nauruan school.
Development cooperation continued through the Israel-Pacific Food Security Alliance. In 2021, the two countries discussed Nauru’s agricultural and food-security needs, the provision of biogas cooking devices for small farmers, and regional training in vegetable production. Nauru also maintained an Israeli honorary consulate headed by former parliamentarian Sean Oppenheimer.
In August 2019, Nauru formally recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, becoming one of only a few countries to take that step. In 2021, Nauru appointed its UN representative, Margo Deiye, as non-resident ambassador to Israel. She was succeeded by Lara Erab Daniel, who presented her credentials to President Isaac Herzog in April 2025.
Following Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack, Nauru condemned Hamas and supported Israel’s right to defend itself. That month, it was among 14 countries that opposed a UN General Assembly resolution calling for an immediate truce in Gaza. It again opposed a ceasefire resolution in December.
In June 2026, Israel opened an embassy in Fiji that also serves Nauru and other Pacific countries. During the visit, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar met Nauruan Vice President and Foreign Minister Lionel Aingimea. On July 22, 2026, Israel announced that Nauru would open its first embassy in Israel in the coming months. Located in Jerusalem, it was expected to become the tenth foreign embassy in the city.
Israeli FM Sa’ar and Nauru’s VP & FM Aingimea, June 2026
In September 2026, Nauru opened its first embassy in Israel in Jerusalem, underscoring what Foreign Minister Lionel Aingimea called its “unwavering” support for Israel and sending “a message to the world of where we stand.” Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar hailed the Pacific island nation as one of Israel’s closest allies and announced Israeli assistance in emergency medicine, medical equipment and water purification.
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“Ambassador of Israel Roi Rosenblit,” Nauru Bulletin, Government of the Republic of Nauru (February 7, 2023);
“President of Micronesia, Nauru Tour Golan Heights,” Ynet, (January 23, 2010);
“Status of Palestine in the United Nations,” United Nations Digital Library (November 29, 2012);
“Netanyahu: Nauru Has Been a Wonderful Friend to Israel,” Israel National News, (June 12, 2017);
“Nauru, World’s ‘Least-Visited Country,’ Recognizes Jerusalem as Israel’s Capital,” Times of Israel, (August 29, 2019);
“Oppenheimer presents credentials as Israel honorary consul,” Government of the Republic of Nauru (March 29, 2021);
Stone, Jessica. “Pacific Island Nations Show Strong Support for Israel at UN,” Voice of America (November 9, 2023);
“President Herzog Receives Diplomatic Credentials of New Ambassadors to Israel,” Government of Israel (April 28, 2025);
Perets, Shir. “‘A Historic Step’: Sa’ar Attends Opening of Fiji’s New Israel Embassy After 30 Years,” Jerusalem Post, (June 2, 2026);
@gidonsaar (July 22, 2026).
Nava Freiberg, “Pacific island nation Nauru opens its first Israeli embassy, in Jerusalem,” Times of Israel, (September 7, 2026).
Map: CIA Factbook.
Photo: @gidonsaar (July 22, 2026).