Colombia

There was a massive immigration to Barranquilla – a coastal city on Colombia’s north coast – during the early 20th century, and not just Arabs but also Jews. Here are some videos about Barranquilla.

The Title includes: Arab Fast Food in Barranquilla
Posted on YouTube: August 11, 2023

A bellydance school from Barranquilla participated in an Arab Festival in Medellin. Notice the Palestinian flag. There will be a song about Palestine later in the video.

Posted on YouTube: November 16, 2022

This foodie (below) tries the Arab food in Barranquilla.

Title: Trying Arab Food in Barranquilla
Posted on YouTube: March 18, 2019

There are roughly 3.2 million Arabs in Colombia. Most are Christians. This probably explains why Colombia recalled its ambassador to Israel during this 2023 Gaza War.

There are very few Muslims.

Though this next snippet talks about Palestinians in Colombia in general, the effect of Palesitnian immigration would apply to Barranquilla as well.

Source: El Tiempo: The Palestinians who found a second home in the center of Bogotá
Diana Hernandez
March 7, 2019
Translated by app

 
Today, according to approximate calculations from the Palestinian embassy – since there is no official census – in Colombia there are between 100,000 and 120,000 Palestinians, of the first, second, third and fourth generation, [although] some of [them] don’t feel like it.

…

Of these, about 90% are located on the Atlantic Coast, especially in Barranquilla, and the remaining 10% would be distributed in the rest of the country. “Many preferred to stay on the coast because geographically it reminds them more of the Middle East than Bogotá, without a doubt : the climate, being coastal, or common customs such as sitting in the patio of the house, between four and six in the morning. late, to wait for the heat to go down, to chat with the neighbors,” says Montero.

(Read More – in Spanish)

Of course, there are also Syrians, Lebanese, etc. in Barranquilla, and Colombia as well.

A Lebanese restaurant in Barranquilla (below).

Posted on YouTube: July 31, 2021

BUT WAIT, THERE IS MORE

The history of Colombia gets more complex, though.

During the Spanish Inquisition, Jews were tossed out of Spain. Many fled to the New World, where whites were in demand by the colonial authorities, and initially few questions were asked.

The upshot is that a lot of Crypto-Jews went to Latin America, and about 23% of Latinos carry Jewish DNA markers. Colombia is famous for having Crypto-Jews. Some have converted back to Judaism.

Posted on YouTube: May 14, 2023

The Jews and Palestinians of Barranquilla tend to get along. The war is a long way away. The mayor has recently noted Barranquilla’s history of tolerance. (Click Here – in Spanish)