Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister James Marape and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have jointly opened the new Papua New Guinea Embassy in Jerusalem becoming the first Pacific Island nation to do so. PNG joins only four other countries in opening a fully-fledged diplomatic mission in the Israeli capital. Speaking from Jerusalem, Prime Minister Marape said the decision to open the new Embassy is a sovereign decision based on Papua New Guinea’s Christian principles and worldview that emanate from Israel’s Judaism religion which emphasizes respect, empathy, tolerance, and acceptance for humankind. “Papua New Guinea highly values its bilateral relations which, over the years have been based on strong Judeo-Christian values and common, shared interests.” “Israel is no ordinary nation.” “From the Judeo-Christian worldview, it is the foundation nation in giving to the world many of the moral principles that we carry as Christians today.” “PNG has a lot to gain from the Israeli economy through its high technology systems in Agriculture, Education, Finance and Resource and Infrastructure Development.” “This will include downstream processing of rice and fisheries products which the Israeli development agency known as MASHAV has indicated its desire to assist.” Prime Minister James Marape further thanked the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Government for facilitating the establishment of the PNG Resident Embassy in Jerusalem as it will ensure smooth and practical flow of our relations to support our socio-economic development. “In reciprocating, the PNG Government will identify suitable land in Port Moresby and invite Prime Minister Netanyahu to PNG for the ground-breaking ceremony.” “Suitable land will also be made available to Israeli investors to bring in their capital to help develop an Israeli-PNG Special Economic Zone.”