Israeli-Marshall Relations

The Marshall Islands established diplomatic relations with Israel in 1987 ^[1] and have traditionally been its close ally in voting at the UN along with the United States ^{[2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]} . In July 1999, welcoming the support of the Marshall Islands of Israel to a UN vote, New York State Congressman Benjamin Gilman, Chairman of the US Congress Foreign Relations Committee, said: “A small nation ... is possible, but [her] courageous actions show a sense of integrity greater than [her] dimensions ” ^[8] . On July 6, 2004, Missouri member of the United States House of Representatives, William Lacy Clay, Jr., declared in the US Congress that "the Marshall Islands were ... a good friend ... of the State of Israel" ^[9] . When asked why the Marshall Islands are inclined to support Israel at the UN vote on resolutions against Israel, Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Dan Gillerman in 2004 expressed the opinion that they do this “because they believe that it is right and not because of their own interests ” ^[10] .

Michael Ronen is the Israeli ambassador to 13 countries in the Pacific, including the Marshall Islands. Ran Rahav serves as the honorary consul of the Marshall Islands in Israel ^[11] .

In 2005, Gesa Nesa , President of the Marshall Islands of Kesai, visited Israel and asked for help convincing the United States to accept responsibility for the devastating long-term consequences of nuclear weapons testing on the people of the Marshall Islands ^{[12] [13] [14] [15]} . President Note was accompanied by Marshall Islands Foreign Minister Gerald Zackios and Bikini Atoll Senator Tomaki Judah. ^[16]

During the visit, President Note thanked Israel for providing assistance in agriculture and health and added: “We are proud to support the State of Israel as an outpost of democracy in this region, despite the constant terrorist attacks that have hit your great nation and people throughout many years ” ^[12] .

The Iranian television channel Press TV wrote in December 2011, pointing out the fact that the Marshall Islands were one of the few countries that supported Israel by voting on two UN resolutions introduced by Egypt: “If you want to find the Marshall Islands on the map, difficulties can arise. [This country is] a member of the UN. [She] has no place in the international arena, but [her voice] counts in the UN General Assembly ” ^[17] .

In 1987, the Marshall Islands purchased desalination equipment from the Israeli company IDE Technologies , used to supply Ebey Island. The equipment is a plant with a capacity of 1,100 tons per day MED (multi-stage distillation), operating with the use of excess heat from the Ebey Island power station ^[18] . In 1992, the Marshall Islands signed a letter of intent to purchase another installation from Israel to supply Majuro with fresh water ^{[19] [20]} .

In 2002, with the support of Israel, a pilot project on poultry farming was created in the village of Laura on Majuro Atoll ^{[21] [22]} .

In 2003, the Center for International Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel ( MASHAV ) supplied the Marshall Islands with experts on citrus crops and irrigation ^[23] .

In June 2010, a group of Israeli ophthalmologists arrived in the Marshall Islands to perform cataract surgery, oculoplasty and surgery to restore vision. The mission was jointly organized by MASHAV and the Israeli non-governmental organization Eye of Zion. ^[24]