Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart | Official U.S. House headshot
Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart | Official U.S. House headshot
Nov 2, 2023
Washington, D.C. - The leaders of the Congressional Latino-Jewish Caucus have come together to denounce the recent diplomatic actions taken by Chile, Colombia, and Bolivia, in severing their ties with Israel. Representative Mario Díaz-Balart, joined by co-chairs Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Adriano Espaillat, Tony Gonzales, and co-chair Rep. Henry Cuellar, issued a statement expressing their appallment at these decisions.
In the statement, the caucus leaders expressed their agreement with the Israeli government's assessment that these actions represent "a surrender to terrorism and to the Ayatollah's regime in Iran." They also highlighted the strong support from the United States Congress and the American people for Israel's right to defend itself. They pointed out that this support is echoed by the overwhelming majority of Latin American Jews who have condemned the use of antisemitic rhetoric and incitement of violence by the presidents of Colombia, Chile, and Bolivia.
The leaders of the Congressional Latino-Jewish Caucus also shared their disappointment at the disregard shown by the leaders of Chile, Colombia, and Bolivia towards their own Jewish communities. They emphasized that the leaders' actions did not reflect the sentiments of the communities they represent. The caucus leaders had previously met with Colombia's Ambassador to the U.S. and expressed their disdain for President Petro's continuous stream of antisemitic and defamatory statements, such as accusing Israel of genocide and comparing Colombian Jews to Nazis. They warned that such behavior was unacceptable from a major non-NATO ally of the United States.
As representatives who have prioritized improving trilateral relations between the U.S., Latin America, and Israel, the leaders of the Congressional Latino-Jewish Caucus and the Congressional Colombia Caucus view these actions as a setback. However, they are determined to work towards reversing this disappointing situation.
The denouncement from the leaders of the Congressional Latino-Jewish Caucus sends a strong message to Chile, Colombia, and Bolivia, reaffirming the unwavering support for Israel's right to defend itself and condemning the use of antisemitic rhetoric. It also serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining strong diplomatic ties between nations for the benefit of all involved.
Click this link to access more information: https://mariodiazbalart.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/englishespanol-congressional-latino-jewish-caucus-leaders-denounce
Alerts Sign-up