Chile leader, after severe spat with Israel, nods to Israeli security in UN speech

Chile’s President Gabriel Boric, after a severe diplomatic dispute with Israel, nods to Israel’s security in his opening address to the United Nations General Assembly.

Last week, Boric rebuffed Israel’s new ambassador to the country because he was angered by Israel killing a Palestinian during a gunfight in the West Bank. The dismissal at the last moment set off an uproar and threatened to cloud relations between the countries.

Boric is a harsh Israel critic and has created tensions over the issue with Chile’s Jewish community.

In his address to the General Assembly, Boric calls on the world body to “not normalize ongoing violations of human rights of the Palestinian people, to uphold international law and the resolutions which this very assembly takes year after year.”

However, he then calls on the UN to support “guaranteeing Israel’s legitimate right to live within safe and internationally recognized borders.”