Ex-leaders pan Latin American Israel criticism

A group of former leaders from across the globe, including the former presidents of Peru and Uruguay, are lambasting the Latin American countries that recalled their ambassadors in Israel in the wake of Operation Protective Edge. In the process they issue a passionate defense of Israel’s Gaza policy.

“The manipulation of information in Latin America regarding the current conflict in Gaza not only intoxicates the citizens, but inspires wrong and reprehensible policies,” the former leaders say in an open letter.

The open letter is signed by former Peruvian president Alejandro Toledo and former Uruguayan president Luis Alberto Lacalle, along with former Italian foreign minister Giulio Terzi, former Spanish industry minister Carlos Bustelo, former US ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton and others.

Over the last two weeks, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Peru, and Brazil have called in their envoys in Tel Aviv over what they said was Israel’s disproportionate military response to Hamas rocket fire.

“It’s certainly regrettable to see the Middle East immersed once again in another war, because all wars produce pain, destruction, and death. Mistakes inevitably take place and many innocent civilians end up paying the consequences of the decisions of those who do fight,” the former leaders say before listing, at great length, several reasons why Israel cannot be blamed for the current conflict.

The former world leaders appeal to all Latin American governments to return their ambassadors to Israel and “demonstrate your solidarity, not cheap demagoguery, with the one fighting to put an end to terror, but using all the restraint in the world — Israel.”

— Raphael Ahren