Guatemala to recognize Jerusalem’s City of David as part of its national heritage

Guatemala is set to recognize Jerusalem's City of David as a cornerstone of its national heritage. A ceremony on Friday will mark the installation of a commemorative plaque at the City of David National Park, making Guatemala the third nation to do so, following the United States and Argentina.

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The City of David, site of Biblical Jerusalem, preserves the origins of a millennia-old history. From this place, where Jerusalem’s earliest communities were formed, the historic bond between Guatemala and Israel is evoked, forged upon respect, memory, and friendship between peoples.

The plaque, bearing the signature of Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo, will be unveiled by Guatemala's Ambassador to Israel, Ava Atzum Arévalo Triboullier de Moscoso. The event is expected to be attended by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, and other Guatemalan dignitaries.

Inscribed in both English and Spanish, the plaque will describe the City of David as the birthplace of Jerusalem's earliest communities. It will also emphasize the deep-rooted relationship between Guatemala and Israel, founded on mutual respect, memory, and friendship. The inscription states, "From this place, where Jerusalem’s earliest communities were formed, the historic bond between Guatemala and Israel is evoked, forged upon respect, memory, and friendship between peoples."

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There are few places in the world where history can be experienced as directly as in the City of David. What is revealed here is not the history of a single nation; it is the earliest chapter of a city whose history has profoundly influenced the spiritual, historical, and cultural heritage of much of humanity, including Guatemala.

Ambassador Arévalo de Moscoso highlighted the site's significance beyond Israel, calling it "an essential part of humanity’s historical heritage." She noted that the City of David's history has profoundly influenced global spiritual, historical, and cultural development, including that of Guatemala. David Be’eri, chairman of the City of David Foundation, expressed that Guatemala's recognition aligns with the biblical vision of Jerusalem as a city of significance for all nations.

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To honor the origins of Jerusalem is also to preserve an essential part of humanity’s historical heritage. Guatemala, a nation that understands the value of memory, recognizes the profound significance that this history holds for humanity and the special place it occupies in the memory of our people.