Latin America gets crosswise with Israel war

Latin America gets crosswise with Israel war

The White House on Friday was actually supposed to be about the "economic prosperity of the Americas". US President Joe Biden received heads of state and foreign ministers from countries in the region. In particular, Biden wanted to talk to the southern neighbors about the crises that are driving hundreds of thousands of refugees to their border with Mexico and discuss possible solutions. But: it was also about Israel and the war in the Middle East, about the terrorist attacks and the current campaign against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Since the terrorists attacked Israeli communities on October 7, killing around 1,400 people, governments in Latin America have expressed very different opinions. Anything else would be highly surprising in 33 countries with a total population of around 650 million. There are some things that large parts of the region have in common. For example, there is latent skepticism towards the USA and its intentions based on historical experience. Only a few countries in Latin America clearly take sides with Israel or the Palestinians.

Chilean President Gabriel Boric made a statement that was as exemplary as it was telling after a one-on-one meeting with Biden in Washington on Friday: "We do not accept that we have to choose between one side and the other." During his visit to the USA, Boric condemned the terrorist attack by Hamas "in the strongest possible terms". However, he also called Israel's reaction "disproportionate", as international law was being violated. The events in the Gaza Strip were "simply unacceptable".

Half a million Palestinians live in Chile , the largest number in any country outside the Arab world, making up 2.5 percent of the population. The 37-year-old President Boric heads a left-wing alliance that is attempting to emancipate itself from its former foreign policy and orientation towards the USA. The Pacific country has free trade agreements with the European Union, the United States and China, as well as many others with individual countries and a Pacific alliance. In other words, political neutrality is good for business. Nevertheless, Chile recalled its ambassador to Israel to Santiago for consultations after the attack on Jabalia. A symbolic protest. And the other countries?

Argentina, for example, where 300,000 people of the Jewish faith live, making it the largest Jewish community in Latin America, immediately condemned the Hamas attack on Israel in the strongest possible terms; the Israeli people have the full solidarity of the Argentinean people. On Thursday, the Foreign Ministry added that while Israel has the right to "legitimate defense", "nothing justifies the violation of international human rights and the obligation to protect the civilian population." The diplomats condemned the Israeli attack on the Jabalia refugee camp in Gaza.

Brazil currently chairs the UN Security Council and introduced a resolution last month. It called on all sides to abide by international law, demanded humanitarian aid for Gaza and condemned the Hamas attack as a "heinous attack". The USA vetoed the resolution. President Lula da Silva said it was "irrational that wars are being waged in which women, old people and children are dying". After Argentina, Brazil has the largest Jewish population in Latin America.

Mexico, governed by the left-wing Andrés Lopez Obrador, is also not taking sides: "We don't want to take sides because we want to be part of a peaceful solution," he said. Following the terrorist attack by Hamas, the Mexican Foreign Ministry attempted to make direct contact with the terrorists. In a statement, it emphasized Israel's right to self-defense, but at the same time condemned the use of violence - "regardless of who it comes from". Mexico is in favor of a holistic two-state solution to end the conflict once and for all.

The President of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, focused on the role of Hamas. "These wild beasts do not represent the Palestinians," wrote Bukele, who is of Palestinian origin, in October. The best thing would be for Hamas to "disappear completely". The controversial head of state is waging an iron-fisted battle against gang crime such as MS13 in the Central American country, although he does not take human rights very seriously. "It would be as if the Salvadorans had sided with the MS13 just because we share ancestors or nationality." The Palestinians should get rid of "these animals" and "let the good people flourish".

Colombia'sPresident Gustavo Petro, the first left-wing head of state in the country's history, took a critical stance towards Israel. He had remained silent on the Hamas attack in October. The former guerrillero then became entangled in untenable comparisons such as those between concentration camps and Israeli attacks on Gaza. "It shows that he supports terrorism," the spokesperson for the Israeli Foreign Ministry ranted about Petro. His statements were "hostile and anti-Semitic". Israel will suspend its arms deliveries to Colombia. Petro replied: "We do not support genocide. You don't insult the president of Colombia." After the attacks on Jabalia became known, Petro called his ambassador in Israel back home for consultations. "If Israel doesn't stop the massacre of the Palestinian people, we can't be there," he said, explaining his decision.

In the meantime, Honduras has also recalled its ambassador. The Honduran government has summoned Ambassador Roberto Martínez from Israel for "consultations" in view of the "grave humanitarian situation" of the Palestinian civilian population in the Gaza Strip, explained Foreign Minister Enrique Reina on the online network X (formerly Twitter).

Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela are unquestionably on the side of the Palestinians. All three are important allies of Iran. They have not condemned the Hamas terror attack, and at the same time have several things in common with Iran: they are extremely critical of the US, governed autocratically, and international organizations accuse them of human rights violations. Iran, Cuba and Venezuela are among the five most sanctioned countries in the world. They also maintain good relations with China and Russia. Iran's influence in Venezuela has been great since the former left-wing head of state Hugo Chávez sought to close ranks with the Islamic Republic, not least because of both countries' critical stance towards the USA.

During his first visit to the region in June, Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi, who has been in office since 2021, was primarily concerned with strengthening "strategic" ties in the region. "Our position and that of these three countries is to oppose imperialism and unilateralism," said Raisi about Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela. Iran is just as clearly on the side of the Palestinians, as are the official statements of its allies in Latin America. Cuba and Nicaragua made demands along their lines, without mentioning the terrorist attacks by Hamas.

On the day of the Hamas attack,Venezuela'sgovernment immediately called for "genuine negotiations" between the two sides and expressed its "deep concern". According to international law, it is impossible for the Palestinian people to assert their "historic rights", it said from the capital Caracas. This is why the situation had escalated. President Nicolás Maduro also spoke of "genocide" and "apartheid" in connection with Israel's military response in the Gaza Strip. Israel does not recognize Maduro as president. The head of state cut diplomatic relations with Israel as foreign minister under Chávez due to the escalation of the Middle East conflict in 2008 and 2009. Instead, Caracas established official relations with the Palestinians.

This is an extreme position, like that of Bolivia. Between 2009 and 2020, Bolivia and Israel also did not maintain diplomatic relations. The conservative former president Jeanine Añez tried to mend the relationship, but she is now in prison due to the events surrounding her assumption of power in 2019. Following the terrorist attack by Hamas, the now left-wing government called for a de-escalation of violence without condemning the terror. Following the attack on Jabalia, the country announced that it would sever its diplomatic relations with Israel, called for "an end to the attacks against the Palestinian people" and criticized Israel's "hostile" treatment of humanitarian aid organizations in the Gaza Strip.

The range of positions in the region is therefore huge. From full solidarity on the part of Argentina or Uruguay"committed to Israel's security", to the breaking off of diplomatic relations or a direct reversal of blame, as in the case of Venezuela.

1. Despite being home to the largest Jewish community in Latin America, Argentina condemned the Hamas attack on Israel strongly while also criticizing Israel's disproportionate response.
2. Brazil, currently chairing the UN Security Council, introduced a resolution calling for all sides to abide by international law, condemning the Hamas attack, and demanding humanitarian aid for Gaza, which was vetoed by the USA.
3. Mexico, governed by President Andrés Lopez Obrador, chose to remain neutral, expressing its support for Israel's right to self-defense while also condemning the use of violence by any side.
4. El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele, who is of Palestinian origin, took a harsh stance against Hamas, referring to them as "wild beasts" that do not represent the Palestinians.
5. Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, all important allies of Iran, have not condemned Hamas's terror attacks and share critical stances towards the USA, autocratic governance, and human rights violations with Iran.

Source: www.ntv.de