Full Breakdown
Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s Historic Panama Visit: Deepening Strategic Ties
5/7/2026, 8:00:12 AM
Historic Event
On 6 May 2026, Israeli President Isaac Herzog arrived in Panama City, first Israeli head of state to visit. He met President José Raúl Mulino, Minister Javier Martínez-Acha Vásquez, and opened talks on security and trade.
Background
The visit occurs as Israel fights a war after Hamas’s 7 Oct 2023 attack and confronts an ICC warrant for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Panama, a UN Security Council member (2024-2025), has abstained from anti-Israel votes, making it an ally.
Key Figures
President Isaac Herzog, President José Raúl Mulino, Foreign Minister Javier Martínez-Acha Vásquez, Israeli Foreign Ministry and Panama ambassador Ezra Cohen were central. Panama’s Jewish community (?12-15 k) and Costa Rica’s (?2.5-5 k) also feature.
Timeline
- 6 May: Arrival;
- 6 May (afternoon): Bilateral meeting;
- 6 May (evening): Canal remarks;
- 7 May: Business and Jewish community talks;
- 8 May: Depart for Costa Rica.
Data
Panama and Israel share a free-trade agreement, the only Middle-Eastern pact, and have Jewish communities of ?12-15 k and ?2.5-5 k respectively. Both abstained from the 2024 UN occupation resolution and a September two-state vote. Israel’s MASHAV has trained thousands of Costa Rican professionals.
Impact
The trip seeks Panama’s support on the UN Security Council, counters Iranian maritime threats, and signals Israel’s outreach to Latin America amid rising pro-Palestinian sentiment. Expanded trade and tech cooperation promise mutual gains.
Official Statements
Herzog thanked Panama for recognition, calling the partnership defense against Iranian terrorism. Mulino called the meeting a historic milestone reaffirming a bond. The foreign minister highlighted trade and innovation ties. Israel’s foreign ministry said the tour shows momentum in Israel-Latin America relations.
Criticism
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva condemned Israel’s seizure of a flotilla bound for Gaza, calling it an affront to international law. Left-wing leaders such as Colombia’s Gustavo Petro have also criticized Israel’s Gaza actions.
Conflicts
Sources list Panama’s Jewish community as 12-15 k or 10-15 k members. The president’s surname appears as “Mulino” and “Molino” across reports. Detailed outcomes of the bilateral agreements remain undisclosed.
Verbatim Quotes
- “President Isaac Herzog said: "It is a tremendous honor for me to stand here today, as the first President of the State of Israel to visit Panama.” — Isaac Herzog, President of Israel
- “ “We will never forget how Panama stood with the Jewish people at the dawn of our statehood, supporting the historic resolution on Israel’s establishment, and formalizing relations just weeks after our independence.” — Isaac Herzog
- “This is a beautiful example of how Panama enables freedom of navigation and maritime freedom, in contrast to what we see in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait in the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz in the Gulf. We must all stand together firmly against any blockage of free shipping movement around the world.” — Isaac Herzog
- “The detention of the flotilla activists in international waters had already represented a serious affront to international law,” — Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, President of Brazil
What’s Next
Panama’s UN Security Council term ends in 2026; Israel may follow up with trade missions and joint tech projects. Upcoming UN votes will test Panama’s support, and Israel plans further outreach to Latin American allies.
