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DPA International
DPA International
Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro announced on Wednesday the cutting of diplomatic relations with Israel due to the “genocidal” government in power there. “If Palestine dies, humanity dies, and we will not let it die,” the left-wing politician said in front of thousands of people in the Plaza de Bolívar in Colombia’s capital Bogotá, where a large International Workers’ Day rally was being held. Diplomatic ties will be cut with Israel on Thursday, he said. Petro has criticized Israel several times in recent months and threatened to break off relations. Back in October, he likened the actions o…
REACTIONS:
U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25) joined fellow Latino-Jewish Caucus co-chairs, Reps. Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26), Tony Gonzales (TX-23), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) and Latino-Jewish Caucus members Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Co-Chair of the Congressional Colombia Caucus, and María Elvira Salazar (FL-27), who serves on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs as Chair of the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee, in releasing the following statement:
“As bipartisan friends of the Colombian and Israeli people, we unequivocally condemn President Petro’s decision to unilaterally sever diplomatic relations with Israel.
“This inflammatory and unwarranted decision is unacceptable from a Major Non-NATO Ally of the United States, counterproductive to Petro’s ostensible goal of securing the release of hostages, and deeply damaging Colombia’s national interests and objectives.
“President Petro’s vitriolic rants comparing Israel to the Nazis, embrace of Hamas’ terrorist ideology, and justification of violence targeting Israeli civilians, create tangible risks for Colombia’s Jewish community which is facing a surge in antisemitism. Yesterday’s action adds insult to injury, especially for the family of Elkana Bohbot, an Israeli-Colombian dual national and hostage of Hamas for 209 days.
“Shamefully, Petro’s decision emboldens Hamas, undercuts global pressure to seek the return of hostages, and undermines the tireless efforts of serious world leaders to seek justice on behalf of Israeli and Palestinian victims of Hamas. These actions do not reflect the views or interests of the Colombian people, who have benefitted for decades from security and economic cooperation with Israel and the United States.
“As members of the Congressional Latino-Jewish Caucus, we affirm its mission statement highlighting the importance of fostering strong multilateral ties between the United States, Latin American and Caribbean nations, and the State of Israel, and roundly denounce President Petro’s disgraceful decision to sever relations with Israel.”