Diplomacy

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On First Visit to Israel, Paraguayan President Praised for Steadfast Support of Jewish State

by TheTower.org Staff |

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed Paraguayan President Horacio Cartes to Jerusalem on Tuesday, calling him a close friend who defended Israel “in difficult circumstances.”

Cartes, the first Paraguayan leader to visit Israel, regretted that the trip did not take place earlier as the two countries were “so close” and “friendly,” but indicated that it was an opportunity to catch up on lost time.

During Operation Protective Edge two years ago, Paraguay stood apart from other Latin American countries in its refusal to condemn Israel, The Jerusalem Post explained. Some other Latin American countries sharply criticized Israel in its war against Hamas, with Brazil, Peru, Chile, El Salvador, and Ecuador even withdrawing their ambassadors in protest.

However, Paraguay has consistently either abstained or voted in favor of Israel in international forums since Cartes was elected president in 2013.

Netanyahu said the relationship reflects both Cartes’ attitude towards Israel and the historical parallels between the two nations. Both Israel and Paraguay are “small countries surrounded by a lot of big countries, not always on the friendliest terms,” Netanyahu observed. Cartes noted that Paraguay voted for Israel to “become a state in May 14 of 1948.” He added that, coincidentally, “the independence of our country Paraguay .. is May 14 too, but in 1811.”

Following his recent historic trip to Africa, Netanyahu expressed an interest in working with Paraguay to expand Israel’s “relationship with the countries of Latin America.”

Cortes and Netanyahu signed a number of agreements after their joint appearance, including a Memorandum of Understanding for Israeli technical assistance to Paraguay. They also signed bilateral agreements related to legal issues, education, cooperation during emergencies, culture, and the Holocaust.

Israel delivered 13 advanced irrigation systems to Paraguay, which is suffering from a severe drought, last month.

A video of Cartes’ and Netanyahu’s remarks is embedded below.

[Photo: Kobi Gideon / GPO ]

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