Source: Why Is Antisemitic Rhetoric So Widespread Among Left-Leaning Latin American Leaders?
The Media Line
Nathan Klabin
Jan 13, 2025Parroting classic antisemitic tropes, the Colombian president has accused Israel of controlling “international financial capital” and of silencing the global press
In a region characterized by turbulent politics, Colombia has long stood out as a Latin American country with a pragmatic approach to international relations. But the tenure of President Gustavo Petro, a former member of the M-19 guerilla movement elected in 2022, has brought heightened scrutiny to Colombia’s foreign policy, particularly regarding Israel.
The problem is less born of religious hatred, but rather that left wing governments seem to have made a whipping boy of Israel.
Published on YouTube: May 1, 2024
There are around 120,000 Palestinians in Colombia, a nation of 52 million people. So they do not constitute much of a demographic footprint. Though there are roughly 3 million Colombians with some degree of Arab ancestry. However, the majority of those would be Christian and might not be quite as sympathetic to the Palestinian cause.
The Evangelical presence is only around 14%, which is significant, but not that influential.
Chile on the other had is about 2-1/2% Palestinian, but they are very elite, and they pack a real political wallop.
On the videos, below, one can see Chilean President Boric attending a Palestinian Christmas event.
Posted on YouTube: December 17, 2024
But remember, Chile is a special case. The Palestinians in Chile are so elite that the politicians – both left and right – have to pay a sort of homage to the community – similar to how American politicians cozy up to AIPAC.
Source: Police in Chile guard Jews after anti-Semitic attacks
By Gil Stern, Stern Shefler
August 18, 2010
Jerusalem Post“The Palestinian community is to Chile what the Jewish community is to the US,” [The president of Chile’s Jewish community, Gabriel] Zaliasnik explained.
So while Palestinians are force to be reckoned with in Chile, most of Latin America’s antisemitism seems to stem from leftist governments, more than raw antisemitism.