From the Liveblog of
Sunday, January 11, 2026
Foreign Ministry confirms that Samoa will open embassy in Jerusalem this year
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleLazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter
The Foreign Ministry says Samoa will become the third Pacific island nation to open an embassy in Jerusalem, confirming a report last week in Samoan media.
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar spoke with Samoan Prime Minister Laʻauli Leuatea Schmidt and invited him to Israel, according to the Israeli readout. Samoa will open the embassy this year.
Last week, the Samoa Observer, a local newspaper, reported that Schmidt announced that the country intended to open the embassy.
“I [have] instruct[ed] our foreign affairs to start preparation to open an office of Samoa in Jerusalem this year,” he was quoted as saying in an address at a Christian pro-Israel prayer service.
Seven countries — the United States, Fiji, Guatemala, Honduras, Kosovo, Papua New Guinea and Paraguay — currently have full embassies in Jerusalem, while more nations have branches in Israel’s capital.
The Prime Minister, La'aulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt, has instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to prepare for the establishment of Samoa's Embassy in Jerusalem. https://t.co/xQBjbC8ZwI
— Samoa Observer (@samoaobserver) January 7, 2026
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