Conflicts between Israel and Hamas have also affected diplomatic relations between Colombia and Israel. Colombian Foreign Minister Alvaro Leyva posted on his social media account X and stated that the Israeli ambassador was “rude” to the president and asked him to apologize and leave the country.
Leyva said, “The foolish arrogance of the Israeli ambassador to Colombia towards President Gustavo Petro will be recorded as a historical milestone in universal diplomacy. It is shameful. At least apologize and leave the country.”
Supporting Petro’s stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Leyva said, “Respect the President of Colombia. He is the author of the ‘Total Peace Doctrine’ for his country and the world, and he demands a definitive solution for Israel and Palestine based on a historical vision. Intellectualism, arrogance or “It is not covered with filth. They were wrong.” made his assessment.
Israeli Ambassador to Bogota Dagan has been responding to Petro’s posts since the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by quoting them from his own social media account.
There are tensions between the parties, especially on social media, due to Petro’s perspective on the Palestinian issue.
The history of universal diplomacy will record as a milestone the senseless arrogance of the Israeli Ambassador to Colombia towards Colombian President Gustavo Petro.
REACTION FROM ISRAEL TO PETRO
Israel summoned Colombia’s Ambassador to Tel Aviv, Margarita Menjarez, to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs due to the statement made by Colombian President Petro about the attacks on Gaza.
According to the written statement made by Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen’s office, Menjarez was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by the Deputy Director General for Latin American Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yonatan Peled, upon the instructions of Cohen, and told him that he had heard about Petro’s “anti-Israeli and anti-Semitic” statements. He conveyed his displeasure.
During the meeting, Peled stated that “Petro’s statements, which shocked Israel”, fueled anti-Semitism, harmed representatives of the State of Israel and threatened the life of the Jewish community in Colombia.
Israel stopped military exports to Colombia in response to Petro’s statements.
Following these statements, Petro reacted to Israel and decided to “suspend foreign relations with Israel”.
SUPPORT FROM PETRO TO PALESTINE
In his statement on his X social media account on October 9, Petro criticized Israel’s response to Hamas’ attack.
Sharing photos of Palestinian children who lost their lives as a result of Israeli attacks on his social media account, Petro said, “The only way for Palestinian children to sleep in peace is for Israeli children to sleep in peace. The only way for Israeli children to sleep in peace is for Palestinian children to sleep in peace.” He used the expression. (AA-IHA)