Herzog to Visit Panama in May, President Confirms
Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
TLDR
- Israeli President Isaac Herzog will visit Panama on May 6, following his trip to Kazakhstan.
- The visit aims to strengthen diplomatic ties and is seen as an expression of appreciation for Panama's consistent support of Israel.
- Panama is noted as the only Latin American country that does not recognize a Palestinian state.
President Isaac Herzog's upcoming official visit to Panama on May 6 marks a significant moment in Israeli-Panamanian relations. Confirmed by Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino, the trip follows Herzog's engagement in Kazakhstan and underscores the deepening diplomatic ties between Israel and Latin America. This visit is particularly meaningful given Panama's unwavering support for Israel on the international stage, a stance highlighted by its unique position as the sole Latin American nation not to recognize a Palestinian state.
President Isaac Herzog will pay an official visit to Panama on May 6, soon after concluding his visit to Kazakhstan, according to Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino.
Panama's ambassador to Israel, Ezra Cohen, expressed particular enthusiasm for the visit. Cohen, a prominent figure in the Panamanian Jewish community before his diplomatic appointment, views Herzog's arrival as a personal triumph and a testament to the strong, long-standing relationship between the two nations, which dates back to Panama's recognition of Israel in 1948. The existing free trade agreement, ratified in 2019, further solidifies the economic partnership between the countries.
Cohen told The Jerusalem Post some time ago that Herzog was scheduled to visit Panama, but the president’s spokesman requested that the trip not be made public until it was announced by the Panamanian hosts.
The visit carries special significance for Panama's vibrant Jewish community, which numbers over 30,000 and traces its origins to the Spanish Inquisition. The presence of Israel's president is a source of pride and a symbol of the enduring connection between the Jewish diaspora and the State of Israel. This engagement reinforces Israel's diplomatic outreach and highlights the shared values and mutual respect that characterize the relationship between Jerusalem and Panama City.
The purpose of the visit is to strengthen diplomatic ties and interaction, though Panama has consistently supported Israel in public forums.
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by Jerusalem Post in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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