Guatemala became the second country to open its Embassy in Jerusalem this week, officially inaugurating its new Embassy compound in Jerusalem's Malha Technology Park on May 16 at a ceremony attended by Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales.
“This is the beginning of something extraordinary, or I would say, the re-beginning of something extraordinary, which is the relationship between Guatemala and Israel”, PM Netanyahu stated in his remarks at the opening ceremony.
"You were always among the first", stated PM Netanyahu, noting that Guatemala was also the first to follow the US, in recognizing the State of Israel, back in 1948.
“It's in this spirit of friendship and a common bond that we welcome you to Jerusalem for the opening of this embassy.”
"Israel and Guatemala are united by a history of at least 70 years, a history that has strengthened a sincere friendship between our peoples”, President Morales remarked in his speech at the ceremony.
"With the return of Guatemala´s embassy to Jerusalem, we are reaffirming our bonds of friendship and brotherhood towards the prosperous people of Israel. From this moment, I declare that Guatemala and Israel will be united for future generations. God bless you."
The ceremony was attended by Guatemala's President Jimmy Morales Cabrera; Guatemala’s Foreign Minister Sandra Jovel; Guatemala’s Ambassador to Israel, Sara Solís Castañeda; US Ambassador to Israel, David Friedman; Jerusalem mayor Nir Barkat, Israeli ministers and MKs, Guatemalan ministers and members of the legislature.
Jerusalem Old City walls illuminated with Guatemalan flags
Ahead of the return of the Embassy of Guatemala to Jerusalem, the city illuminated the Old City walls with flags of Guatemala, Israel, and the US and a message thanking President Morales.
"Guatemalan Embassy, welcome home!" stated Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat. "I thank President Jimmy Morales for his courageous decision". Barkat also called upon other countries to "join the US and Guatemala—do the right thing and bring your embassies to the Jerusalem, our eternal capital!"
Brief history of the bilateral relations between the two nations
The friendship between Israel and Guatemala dates back to before the founding of the State of Israel in 1948.
In 1947, Guatemala played a determining role in Israel's formation by casting the second vote in the UN General Assembly in support of the Partition Resolution which called for the partition of Mandatory Palestine into a Jewish state and an Arab state. Guatemala's representative to the UN, Ambassador Jorge Garcia Granados, played a crucial role in convincing other Latin American countries to vote in favor of the Resolution. Thanks to his efforts, 12 Latin American countries joined Guatemala and voted in favor of the resolution.
In honor of Guatemala's efforts in those days, as PM Netanyahu mentioned at the inauguration ceremony, “There's a Guatemala street in many cities and many communities in Israel because we remember our friends, and Guatemala is our friend then and now.”
In 1948, Guatemala became the second country to recognize the State of Israel, after the US, and in 1956 Guatemala was the first country to open an embassy in Jerusalem, while Israel also opened its embassy in Guatemala City.
Guatemala’s embassy in Jerusalem was closed in 1980.
Throughout the years, Israel and Guatemala have worked together to promote development. Today, cooperation between the two countries is focused on the fields of agriculture, water resource management and irrigation (Guatemala is located in an area that is known as “Dry Corridor Strip”, due to the region's vulnerability to the effects of climate change and the urgent need to build resilience).
More than 6,000 people from Guatemala have already participated in training courses with Israeli experts in Israel and in Guatemala, as part of MASHAV’s – Israel's Agency for International Development Cooperation - training programs.
Following US President Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, Guatemala was one of seven countries to vote with the Trump administration and Israel on the Jerusalem embassy issue at the UN. Guatemalan President Morales first announced his plans to move his country’s embassy to Jerusalem in March, saying “In May of this year, we will celebrate Israel’s 70th anniversary, and under my instructions two days after the US will move its embassy, Guatemala will return and permanently move its embassy to Jerusalem”.
Additionally, The Guatemalan Congress recently passed a law marking May 14 as "Israel-Guatemala Friendship Day."
Jerusalem: Glorious and eternal
During the reception event for the Guatemalan Delegation at the King David Hotel in Jerusalem, PM Netanyahu declared, “70 years ago Jerusalem again became the capital of the independent Jewish state, and what a glorious capital it’s become, what a glorious state Israel has become”. He went on, “We are seizing the future and we are seizing it together with you, Guatemala.”
Israel welcomes Guatemala Embassy to Jerusalem, our united capital.
Muchas Gracias Guatemala!