From the Liveblog of
Friday, May 8, 2026
Chile to return ambassador to Israel in coming weeks
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleLazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter
Chile’s President José Antonio Kast tells President Isaac Herzog during their meeting in Costa Rica that he intends to return his country’s ambassador to Israel in a few weeks, The Times of Israel has learned.
Chile recalled its ambassador less than a month after the October 7, 2023, Hamas invasion of Israel. Kast also says that Chile wants to increase cooperation across all sectors, including agriculture, health, AI, technology, and security.
Kast stressed to Herzog that Chilean media criticized him for the meeting, to which Herzog responded that there are many issues of bilateral interest.
“We discussed the important opportunities to restore Israel-Chile relations to their previous heights to the benefit of both our nations,” writes Herzog on X.
I am honored to represent the State of Israel today at the inauguration of the incoming President of Costa Rica, Laura Fernández Delgado.
Costa Rica has stood by Israel’s side ever since voting for Israel’s establishment at the United Nations in 1947.
I look forward to working…
— יצחק הרצוג Isaac Herzog (@Isaac_Herzog) May 8, 2026
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