Full Breakdown
Israel’s President Herzog Leads Central American Diplomatic Outreach
5/11/2026, 2:03:03 AM
Herzog’s Central American Diplomatic Tour
On May 7, 2026 Israeli President Isaac Herzog visited Panama, expanding free-trade pact and launching projects in cybersecurity, water, ag-tech and medicine. At Costa Rica’s inauguration on May 8, he met President-elect Laura Fernández Delgado, who said Costa Rica will upgrade its mission in Jerusalem to an embassy, reversing the 2006 move to Tel Aviv.
Regional Context and Data
Costa Rica kept a Jerusalem embassy until 2006, when President Óscar Arias moved it to Tel Aviv to match the norm among Latin American capitals. Panama and Costa Rica abstained from the 2024 UN vote condemning Israel’s occupation. The Gaza war, begun in October 2023, has caused 70,000 deaths, 170,000 injuries and destroyed much civilian infrastructure. Jewish communities 2,500-5,000 in Costa Rica and 12,000-15,000 in Panama. Chile, home to >350,000 Palestinians, announced President José Antonio Kast will restore Chile’s ambassador to Israel within weeks.
Official Statements & Responses
Herzog said a “positive trend of change, tightening of ties, and deepening of cooperation” across Latin America. Fernández Delgado called the embassy upgrade a return to Costa Rica’s support for Israel. Kast highlighted renewed cooperation in agriculture, health, AI and technology. Chaves thanked Israel for standing by it “in our most difficult moments.”
Criticism & Opposition
Spain, Ireland, Slovenia and Belgium have urged suspension of ties with Israel over the Gaza conflict; Belgium called Israeli actions “unacceptable.” Chilean media have questioned Kast’s meeting with Herzog, reflecting lingering concern.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I was moved to see the depth of appreciation for Israel, the great interest in its capabilities, and the recognition of its unique contribution to humanity,” — Isaac Herzog, President of Israel
- “In contrast to many voices on the international stage, a positive trend of change, tightening of ties, and deepening of cooperation with Israel is evident in Latin America,” — Isaac Herzog
- “ The Israeli leader emphasized that “Iran’s terror regime and its proxies” have reached as far as Latin America, using the example of the 1994 Hezbollah terrorist attack against Panama’s Jewish community.” — Isaac Herzog
- “ It is a great honor to be here in Costa Rica at the invitation of my dear friend President @RodrigoChavesR as he completes his term in office and hands over to President-elect Laura Fernández Delgado tomorrow.” — Isaac Herzog (tweet)
Implications & Next Steps
The embassy upgrade and Chile’s ambassador restoration signal a shift toward closer Israel-Latin America ties, easing Israel’s diplomatic isolation. Trade and technology accords with Panama and Costa Rica could deepen economic links. Domestic opposition suggests the realignment remains contested. Costa Rica will formalize the Jerusalem embassy upgrade soon; Israel and Panama will roll out cooperation frameworks; Chile aims to appoint its ambassador to Jerusalem within weeks. Meetings are slated for late 2026 to advance trade, security and water-management.
