Source: Responsible Statecraft – Why is Latin America so pro-Palestine?
by Connor Echols
November 20, 2023… While most states in the region condemned Hamas’s initial attack, their harsh response to the Israeli offensive in Gaza has only been equalled by that of Arab- and Muslim-majority countries. Belize and Bolivia both cut ties with Israel over the war, and Colombia, Chile, and Honduras have all recalled their ambassadors from Tel Aviv.
Even states that consider themselves neutral on the conflict — like Brazil and Argentina — have issued withering condemnations of Israel’s attacks on civilians in Gaza. “This is not a war,” said Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. “This is a genocide.”
So why are Latin American leaders so pro-Palestine? Experts who spoke with RS said it mostly comes down to three factors: Latin America’s increasing independence from the U.S.; the rise of left-wing and indigenous movements; and the presence of large Arab diasporas in much of the region. …
Emphasis mine
The article above has a pretty thorough analysis.
But one thing does stand out (you have to read their article). The author notes the relatively weak Jewish influence overall in Latin America. There is almost no viable a counterweight to all of this, except the rise of Christian Evangelicalism.
The author did note that El Salvador supports Israel even though the present president is of Palestinian extraction. However, El Salvador is one-third to forty precent Evangelical, and that has to have an effect.
In reality, as the Evangelical Churches continue to grow, the sympathies will flip to Israel.
The present support for Gaza may be a last stand for Arabist sympathies.
Posted on YouTube: December 5, 2023
