After recent successes in Africa, Netanyahu sets his sights on new diplomatic horizons, including fostering ties with Latin America.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly planning to make a historic trip to Latin America next month, which would make him the first Israeli leader in office to visit the region.
According to a report in the Jerusalem Post, Netanyahu’s office is in the advanced planning stages to visit Mexico and Argentina in mid-September ahead of a visit to New York to address the United Nations General Assembly.
The trip would coincide with the 70th anniversary of the 1947 U.N. Partition Plan when 13 Latin American and Caribbean countries voted for the creation of a Jewish state in the former British Mandate of Palestine.
The move by Netanyahu is part of a larger effort by the Israeli leader to improve ties with non-traditional allies such as African and Asian countries.
Netanyahu’s plan to visit Latin America first emerged late last year while hosting Guatemala’s President Jimmy Morales in Jerusalem.
“Latin America has always been friendly to Israel, but I think we’re at a position where these relationships can be far, far, far advanced,” Netanyahu told the Latin American leader.
According to Israeli officials, Latin American countries are interested in obtaining Israeli technology as well as agricultural, security and medical knowledge.
By: JNS.org