Israel-Latin America relations: What has changed in the past decade and why?

This chapter examines the evolution of the relationship between Israel and Latin America in general and with specific countries in the region in particular. The 21st century has witnessed the adoption of very antagonistic and very emphatic positions towards Israel by several important Latin American countries. Following a succinct review of the gradual development of diplomatic stances since the adoption of the United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine of 29 November 1947 until the beginning of the new millennium, the analysis focuses upon the shifts that have taken place in the past decade. The chapter attempts to explain why there was a surge in Israel-Latin America relations, in which countries and sectors this surge is mostly felt, what is the Latin American perspective on the deepening of relations with Israel, and what are the actual results on the ground. The chapter focuses on what has changed in the relations between Israel and Latin America and why. Among the varying explanations, the decline of relevance of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the systemic change in the structure of the post-Cold War era, Israel’s economic and technological clout, religious changes in Latin America, and domestic political cleavages in the region are particularly relevant.