Paraguay relocates its embassy to Jerusalem

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Paraguay's President Santiago Peña during the celebration of the relocation of the Paraguayan Embassy to Jerusalem. (12/12/2024)

The President of the Republic of Paraguay, Santiago Peña, celebrated the reopening of the Embassy of Paraguay in Jerusalem, Israel, and highlighted it as a historic day, both for Paraguay and Israel.

“Today is a historic day for our country. We have carried out the opening of the Embassy of the Republic of Paraguay in Jerusalem, reaffirming the ties of friendship and cooperation with our sister nation Israel,” said the Paraguayan president.

He added that this reopening of the Embassy in Jerusalem is a symbol of the commitment between both nations. “This step symbolizes our commitment to shared values and the strengthening of ties that build a future of peace, development and mutual understanding,” continued the Paraguayan president.

Netanyahu and Israel's new foreign minister, Gideon Saar, were full of praise for President Peña. “My good friend Santiago,” Netanyahu said. “We are a small nation. You are a small nation. We suffered horrible things but we overcame the adversities of history...we can win and we are winning.”

For his part, Gideon Saar said Israel and Paraguay share a “friendship based not only on interests, but also on values and principles.” He said he would soon visit Asunción, Paraguay's capital, with a delegation from the Israeli private sector. At the ceremony, Peña and Paraguayan Foreign Minister Rubén Ramírez Lezcano signed a series of bilateral agreements.

Despite having a small Jewish community - much smaller than its neighbors Argentina and Brazil - Paraguay has become one of Israel's strongest allies in Latin America. The other countries in the region that recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital, Guatemala and Honduras, have equally strong evangelical churches. Evangelicals, many of whom consider Israel's existence to be related to biblical prophecy, are among the staunchest supporters of the Israeli government.