An Israeli diplomatic delegation on Tuesday arrived in Bolivia’s capital to officially renew diplomatic relations for the first time in close to a decade and a half.
By Aryeh Savir, TPS
An Israeli diplomatic delegation on Tuesday arrived at La Paz, Bolivia, and held talks with senior Bolivian officials, months after the two countries renewed diplomatic relations in November 2019, the first Israeli delegation to arrive in the South American country in 14 years.
The Israeli officials, led by Israel’s Ambassador to Peru Asaf Ichilevich, met with Bolivia’s President Jeanine Añez Chavez and Bolivian Foreign Minister Karen Longaric and agreed to promote bilateral cooperation.
Ex-Bolivian President Evo Morales in 2009 cut all ties with Israel after the IDF’s counterterrorism Operation Cast Lead in Gaza and recognized the Palestinian Authority as an independent state in 2010.
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz stated that he “applauds the visit of the first official delegation to Bolivia and the collaborations that were decided on during the visit.”
“The renewal of relations with Bolivia will contribute to strengthening the foreign relations of the State of Israel and its position in the world,” he added.
The Foreign Ministry stated that it “will continue to work to strengthen ties with Latin America as it did in renewing relations with Bolivia, transferring the Guatemalan Embassy and Honduras and Brazil’s Trade Offices to Jerusalem, and Argentina, Colombia, Paraguay, Guatemala and Honduras’ recognition of Hezbollah as a terrorist organization.”
Israel in recent years has invested heavily in its diplomatic relations with Latin American countries, leading to a change in the continent’s foreign policies which have been traditionally pro-Arab.