新西兰的主要反对党——工党在周三对政府的立场提出了质疑。此前，以色列宣布自己已成为太平洋岛国论坛（PIF）的“合作伙伴”。
New Zealand's main opposition Labour Party on Wednesday questioned the government’s position after Israel announced it had become a “partner” of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF).
以色列外交部周二表示，PIF秘书长迪瓦维西·瓦卡男爵已通知以色列外交部长吉迪恩·萨阿尔，特拉维夫已被接纳为该论坛的合作伙伴。该部门称，这一决定是在上个月于帕劳举行的PIF成员国领导人会议上作出的。
Israel’s Foreign Ministry said Tuesday that PIF Secretary General Baron Divavesi Waqa informed Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar that Tel Aviv “has been accepted as a Forum Partner.”The decision was made at a meeting of the leaders of the PIF member states in Palau last month, said the ministry.
据新西兰广播公司报道，萨阿尔曾在6月访问斐济，并在那里会见了瓦卡，正式提出以“合作伙伴”身份加入这个由18个国家组成的论坛的请求。
Sa’ar visited Fiji in June, where he met Waqa and formally requested to join the 18-member forum as a “partner” nation. New Zealand Labour Party Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Vanushi Walters, however, said that if her party were in government, it would have opposed Israel's inclusion in the PIF, Radio New Zealand reported.
然而，工党外交事务发言人瓦努希·沃尔特斯表示，如果她的政党执政，一定会反对以色列加入PIF。她指出，新西兰总理克里斯托弗·卢克森本月早些时候曾表示：“如果以色列总理本雅明·内塔尼亚胡来到新西兰，他会将其逮捕。”此外，在一次选举辩论中，工党领袖克里斯·希普金斯也声称如果内塔尼亚胡来到新西兰，也应该将其逮捕。
But she said that Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said earlier this month that “he would arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he came to New Zealand." And during an election debate, New Zealand Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins said that if Netanyahu came to New Zealand he should be arrested.
据报道，卢克森表示自己的立场与希普金斯一致。沃尔特斯补充说：“对于这种情况是如何发生的，以及新西兰采取了哪些措施来表达反对意见，总理必须给出令人信服的解释。”
Luxon said he “has the same position” as Hipkins, according to the report. The prime minister has “serious questions to answer on how this situation has come about and what steps New Zealand took to object,” Walters added.
目前，新西兰国内围绕以色列问题的紧张局势正在加剧；该国本月晚些时候将举行大选，而惠灵顿则将在明年主办PIF峰会。
The new tensions about Israel in New Zealand come as the country holds general elections later this month and Wellington will host the PIF summit next year.
虽然太平洋岛国论坛（PIF）尚未就以色列成为该论坛的合作伙伴发表正式声明，但该论坛周一表示，Waqa及其他PIF成员国在斐济首都苏瓦的太平洋岛国论坛秘书处与以色列举行了首次关于MASHAV发展合作的会议。MASHAV是以色列负责国际发展合作的机构。根据该论坛在美国社交媒体上的消息，以色列驻斐济及太平洋岛国大使Maya Yaron以及MASHAV发展合作部门的负责人Eynat Shlein出席了此次会议。
While the PIF has yet to issue a formal statement on Israel becoming a partner nation of the bloc, the forum said Monday that Waqa and other PIF members held their first briefing with Israel on MASHAV Development Cooperation at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat in Suva, Fiji's capital. MASHAV is Israel’s agency for international development cooperation Waqa welcomed Maya Yaron, Israel’s ambassador to Fiji and Pacific Island countries, the forum said on US social media company It said Eynat Shlein, head of the MASHAV Development Cooperation, attended the meeting.
以色列外交部称，根据新的合作协议，以色列将参与太平洋岛国论坛的“行业合作伙伴关系”项目，从而在双方共同关心的领域开展有针对性的合作。合作内容将重点关注区域优先事项，并充分利用以色列在水资源管理、海水淡化、农业、气候变化适应、创新及可持续发展等方面的专业知识。双方还将共同制定一份《合作伙伴行动计划》（PACE Plan）。
Shlein traveled from Israel to the Pacific for regional engagements, it added. Under the new arrangement, Israel will participate in the PIF’s Sectoral Partnership Stream, “enabling focused cooperation in areas of mutual interest,” according to the Israeli Foreign Ministry. “The cooperation will focus on regional priorities, drawing on Israel’s expertise in water management, desalination, agriculture, climate change adaptation, innovation and sustainable development,” it said, adding that the two sides will also develop a Partnership Action and Commitment Plan (PACE Plan).