‘God’s Government’: Samoan PM La’auli Makes Position Clear On Israel

RNZ
Pacific reporters

Samoa’s head of state Afioga
Tui’malealiifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi II and Prime Minister
La’aulialemalietoa (La’auli) Leuatea Schmidt joined a parade
in Apia over the weekend in support of Israel.

The
“March for Israel” was organised by the Samoa for Israel
group and attended by various churches and
organisations.

Photos of the event shared by the
Samoan government showed people carrying and wrapped in
Israeli flags in front of the Government Building, where the
event took place.

According to the Samoa
Observer, La’auli broke down in tears at the pro-Israel
gathering.

“Visibly emotional, La’aulialemalietoa
linked his support for Israel to his Christian faith,
recalling the sacrifices made before independence,” the
newspaper reported.

“La’aulialemalietoa said the time
had come to declare Samoa’s position, rather than remain
undecided about supporting what he described as ‘God’s
government’.”

La’auli is among the most staunch
supporters of Israel in the region. He also confirmed that
preparations for Samoa’s embassy in Jerusalem were
continuing despite opposition.

The event was held
following an announcement by the Israeli Foreign Ministry
last month that the country had been accepted into the
Pacific Islands Forum as a sectoral partner – a move that
has split
the region.

While Israel joining of the region’s
main political decision-making body has received widespread
criticism from human rights groups, community leaders, as
well as former
Pacific leaders and diplomats, other , such as Fiji’s
Deputy Prime Minister Viliame Gavoka and ACT leader David
Seymour, have welcomed Israel’s inclusion in the Pacific’s
principal diplomatic
organisation.

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