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El Cid! Hero of Spain, against the Islamic Moors.

The central drama of Spanish and Portuguese history is the Reconquista. The liberation of Spain and Portugal from Muslim tyranny. In the case of Spain, it took 781 years (from 711 to 1492AD).

One would think that such a long struggle would inoculate Latin culture against any sympathies for an Arab cause. And, in the general population, with Spanish and Portuguese ancestry, that might be the case.

However, Arabs have risen to places of prominence in Latin America. And while Jews are nowhere near as prominent as they are in the United States, they still have clout (especially in Argentina).

Much like the United States, Latin America was a land of immigrants. However, unlike the United States, Latin America tended to get more Spanish, Italian, French, and Arab immigrants by percentages than the United States. Latin America veered towards South European and Mediterranean stocks. Hence, it remained heavily Catholic.

The one exception were large amounts of Germans, who – contrary to popular misperceptions – the majority of whom were NOT nazis. Outlier groups like occasional Irish and/or British went to Latin America.

Only recently, historically, have Protestants/Evangelicals made themselves felt in Latin America, chiefly in Brazil and Chile.

But Latin America was culturally homogenous for much of that time.

However, very prosperous Arabs and Jewish groups(though small) are swaying the discussion.

All of this is coming into play during this Gaza War.