Why is it that Micronesia and the Marshall Islands are always among the tiny minority of Israel supporters at the UN (as they were at Tuesday’s vote)? Totally Jewish did some investigating:
Micronesia, made up of four states of Kosrae, Pohnpei, Chuuk and Yap covering around 600 islands, has less than 110,000 inhabitants and boasts an export economy based on fish and selling its internet domain name -.fm – to radio stations.
And the Marshall Islands, with a population of just 51,000, may be most famous for providing the inspiration behind the bikini swimsuit, after it allowed the US to carry out nuclear tests on the eponymous island.
But their relations with Israel go back to the very early days of their foundation as nation states. After the second world war, both the Marshall Islands and Micronesia came under US control until they achieved independence in 1986. Amid confusion over their status, which delayed the establishment of international ties, Israel took the initiative to set up diplomatic relations in 1988, three years before the island nations entered the UN.
Micronesian ambassador to the UN, Masao Nakayama, told LJN: “Israel was the first country from that part of the world to recognize Micronesia, and did so while many countries still questioned the legitimacy of Micronesia’s statehood.”
So warm diplomatic gestures can have a lasting effect.
