Why are Latin American countries building closer ties with Israel?

A wave of new Latin American leaders reverses measures meant to isolate Israel after its genocidal war on Gaza. Save Share When Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar announced on October 8 that Colombia would bemovingits embassy to Jerusalem, he made sure to point out how important the development was for his country’s diplomatic narrative, and that it heralded warming relations with Latin American governments. “We will work hard because this is the diplomatic battle over the truth,” Saar said. “And the truth is, Jerusalem was always the capital of one nation.” Brazil, Saar went on to say, might soon join Colombia and the growing list of Latin American countries that had moved their embassies to Jerusalem, the disputed city claimed by Israelis and Palestinians as their capital. Latin America’s relationship with Israel is shifting, as right-wing parties come into power in the region and pro-Israel politicians use their support for the country to rally voters. Brazil, the largest country in the region, is in the midst of apresidential election campaignin which the relationship with Israel has become a key talking point. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, a left-wing ardent supporter of Palestine, is locked in a close contest with right-wing rival Senator Flavio Bolsonaro. He has sported Israeli flags at campaign rallies and played up his friendship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The pair are scheduled to take part in a run-off election after Bolsonaro performed surprisinglystronglyin the first -round, apparently raising hopes for a detente with Israeli officials like the foreign minister. Last month, for instance, Colombia and Israel began allowing their citizens to travel visa-free between their countries, yet another signal the newly inaugurated government of Abelardo de la Espriella wants to restore ties that were cut in the wake of Israel’s war on Gaza. Experts say the realignment with Israel is driven, in part, by new leaders trying to signal they have joined a regional alignment with United States President Donald Trump. But it’s also being fuelled by a massive lobbying effort in which Evangelical Christian groups and Israeli-government-backed organisations in the region have pushed Latin American countries to support Israel. “It’s not one factor or the other, but a convergence,” said Marta Tawil Kuri, Research Professor at the Center for International Studies at the College of Mexico....