Petro provokes a diplomatic crisis with Israel for his anti-Semitic statements

2023-10-16 05:03:03

As expected, the most radical Latin American left has reacted in a very similar way in relation to the Hamas terrorist attacks against the Israeli civilian population that occurred more than a week ago. Presidents like that of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obradorand that of Colombia, Gustavo Petrolaunched their attacks against Israel for defending itself from terrorist barbarity without mentioning the murders and kidnappings of Hamas.

In his first reaction after the murders and kidnappings of Hamas and the defense of Israel, Petro pointed out through the social network prohibited by international law and those who develop them become criminals against humanity”. Furthermore, in a verbal exchange with the Israeli ambassador in Colombia, Enter Daganadded that “I was already in the Auschwitz concentration camp and now I see it copied in Gaza.”

Given this situation, the Israeli Foreign Spokesperson, Lior Hayatpointed out in a virtual press conference that “they are very regrettable messages, they demonstrate more than anything a lack of knowledge, not to say ignorance and a lack of respect after the atrocities that we have seen, the images of that attack so barbaric that not even Even animals do it.”

For his part, the World Jewish Councilbased in New York, responded to the former guerrilla: “President Gustavo Petro: What you are saying is an insult to the six million victims of the Holocaust and the Jewish people. Your comments here and the others on your page completely ignore the hundreds killed and kidnapped during Hamas’ murderous attack on Israeli civilians.”

President @petrogustavo:

What you are saying is an insult to the six million victims of the Holocaust and to the Jewish People. Your comments here, and the others on your page completely ignore the hundreds of dead and kidnapped during Hamas’ murderous attack on Israeli…

— World Jewish Congress (@WorldJewishCong) October 9, 2023

Shortly after, Petro insisted: “Gaza today appears as destroyed or more so than the Warsaw ghetto (sic) after, in response to the Jewish and socialist insurrection (sic), that concentration camp was destroyed by Nazi barbarism.” .

Israel’s decision

Given Petro’s insults and offenses against Israel, the Foreign Ministry summoned the Colombian ambassador, Margarita Manjarrez, to express his rejection of the president’s words. The Foreign Ministry spokesperson noted that “in the meeting it was made clear to the ambassador that her statements were received in Israel with astonishment at the savage attack by Hamas terrorists who murdered more than 1,300 Israelis and kidnapped more.” 150″. He added that “Israel condemns the president’s statements that reflect support for the atrocities committed by Hamas terrorists, fuel anti-Semitism, affect representatives of the State of Israel and threaten the peace of the Jewish community in Colombia.”

For that reason, he said that “in response, as a first measure, Israel decided to stop security exports to Colombia“, a relationship that they have had for years since it is an important supplier of military material for the South American country.

At the instruction of Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, the Deputy Director General for Latin America at the Israeli Foreign Ministry, Amb. Jonathan Peled summoned the Colombian ambassador to Israel, Margarita Manjarrez, for a reprimand conversation, after… pic.twitter.com/vJEfvVlikG

— Lior Haiat ???????? (@LiorHaiat) October 15, 2023

Petro did not wait to respond through social networks and pointed out that “if we have to suspend foreign relations with Israel, we will suspend them. (…) The president of Colombia is not insulted.” Furthermore, she took the opportunity to continue insulting Israel.

If we have to suspend foreign relations with Israel, we suspend them. We do not support genocides.

The president of Colombia is not insulted.

I call on Latin America to show real solidarity with Colombia. And if he is not capable, it will be the development of history that will say the last…

— Gustavo Petro (@petrogustavo) October 15, 2023

Naturally, the anti-Semitic statements of the Colombian president and former guerrilla have generated much criticism in his own country, and harsh responses from Jewish organizations that have felt offended.