The Foreign Ministry said Sunday that 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 statement.

Samoa, which has an estimated population of around 212,000 and is smaller than the US state of Rhode Island, is set to open the embassy later this year.

Last week, the Samoa Observer, a local newspaper, reported that Schmidt, who was sworn in last September, 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........

© The Times of Israel