2024-03-11 11:44:35
In the movement to combat anti-Semitism, they recognized the anti-Israel trend in the center and south of the continent and decided to strengthen Israeli outreach to the local communities, while strengthening ties with governors and mayors in key countries in Central America.
This morning (March 11), the delegation visited Sderot and the massacre site at the Nova party in Ra’im, toured with an IDF spokesman in Spanish at Kibbutz Nir Oz, and later it is expected to visit Ofakim and Kibbutz Bari, in the city of Rahat, in Jerusalem, and at Hatavim Square. The guests will meet with families of abductees and survivors of Black Sabbath, With the team of the “Ihud Hatzla” organization, and also with entrepreneurs who will introduce them to the world of Israeli high-tech, entrepreneurship, research and development. “In the movement to combat anti-Semitism, we believe in the importance of harnessing local governors and heads of authorities to combat hatred of Israel, this model was able to evoke echoes in two similar initiatives that we implemented In the USA and Germany, with conferences in which hundreds of participants took part: leaders, mayors and governors,” explains Sasha Roitman-Dratva, CEO of CAM, the movement to combat anti-Semitism. “The local representatives have a unique ability to confront anti-Semitism proactively at the local level, I am encouraged by this that the representatives who took part in the conferences accepted the obligation to denounce antisemitism in their cities and communities.
Solidarity’s visit to the southern settlements (Photo: CAM)
Mayors know their communities best and most closely, they have the authority that allows them to initiate various initiatives, such as initiatives in the field of education, and initiate changes in policy. Precisely within their cities, in their streets and communities, local leaders can make a tangible change in the struggle,” he explains. The effect of a visit to Israel, an unmediated meeting with the families of the abductees, the survivors of the massacre, the rescue forces, etc., already creates a different level of affinity to the events, and a deeper understanding of the Israeli side,” he emphasizes. “Following a similar tour we recently conducted for a delegation of Muslim leaders, which received very positive responses, we realized that the conditions were ripe to invite a delegation from Latin American countries, for a similar experience,” he says.
“CAM began its activities in Latin America in 2021, the political transformations that we see in various countries in Europe, do not miss the Latin continent; even in countries that have traditionally stood by Israel or have made sure to maintain normal bilateral relations, we see with concern a change in rhetoric on the part of the elected leaders”, Shay Salmon, director of the Latin American department in the movement to combat anti-Semitism, explains. “The arrival of mayors and governors from countries like Chile and Honduras on such challenging days shows the desire for continued cooperation at the municipal level and the burning need to fight the rising anti-Semitism all over the world, including in Latin America.
The delegation is accompanied by the Spanish journalist Pilar Raola from Barcelona. Raola, former member of the Spanish Congress and deputy mayor of Barcelona, is a journalist, author and leading lecturer on the conflict in the Middle East and human rights. Today, she is one of the leading voices in the Latin world on the issue of information and the fight against anti-Semitism, and was recently appointed chairman of the board of the movement to combat anti-Semitism in Latin America. Among the members of the delegation, the mayor of the city of Colina from Chile. At a time when the anti-Israel president of Chile, Gabriel Buritz ‘ calls on the ambassador for consultations due to “unacceptable violations of international humanitarian law that Israel has committed in the Gaza Strip”, and following the “fresh” ban imposed on Israeli industries to participate in the Latin American Aerospace Fair, the visit of the Chelian representative is particularly important.
Solidarity’s visit to the southern settlements (Photo: CAM)
It should be noted that in Chile lives the largest Palestinian community in the world outside of the Middle East, and it is estimated that 1.8% of the population is of Palestinian origin. The mayor of Quetzaltenango will come from Guatemala. The first forum held by CAM in Central America in the summer of 2021, in the midst of the Corona epidemic, took place in Guatemala, when the country was the second after the USA to return its embassy to Jerusalem. From Uruguay, the governor of Maldonado will visit the country, which is one of the most important tourist centers in South America, and the city that houses the second Jewish community in Uruguay .
Also in the delegation of the Governor of Panama – Panama adopted the IHRA’s working definition of anti-Semitism and shows a sympathetic and friendly attitude towards Israel. A high-ranking representative will arrive from the city of La Paz in Honduras, when after many years of pro-Israel policy, including moving the embassy to Jerusalem, since 2022 with the election of a far-left president, the country has changed its policy towards Israel. In November 2023, a month after the massacre in the south, she called for the return of the ambassador “in light of the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza.” Due to the tense situation between the countries, CAM sees great importance in the participation of a Honduran representative in the solidarity visit, precisely at this time.
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