From the Liveblog of
Sunday, May 4, 2025
Herzog meets with Ecuador president ahead of opening of Jerusalem innovation office
Nava Freiberg is The Times of Israel's deputy diplomatic correspondent.
President Isaac Herzog and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar hold separate meetings this morning with officials from Ecuador on a visit during which the South American country will open a new Innovation Research and Development Center with diplomatic status in Jerusalem.
Herzog welcomed Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem, marking Noboa’s first visit to Israel, says Herzog’s office.
“We are very grateful… for declaring the opening of your representative office in Jerusalem, which will be a diplomatic representative office. It is a huge step forward,” Herzog tells Noboa.
Herzog stresses the importance of bringing home the remaining hostages, calling their continued captivity in Gaza “a stain on humanity, which also impacts the future of the region and the ability of… Israel and its neighbors, to move forward towards peace.”
Noboa responds in agreement, saying, “We need to bring your citizens back home,” and adds that his nation “advocate[s] for peace, but we understand sometimes that peace has to be attained through strength.”
“We respect and value your expertise in technology and defense. We would like to work together,” continues Noboa, noting Ecuador’s own domestic struggle against terrorism.
Meanwhile, Sa’ar met with Ecuador’s Foreign Minister Gabriela Sommerfeld, Defense Minister Giancarlo Loffredo, and Interior Minister John Reimberg at the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem, according to his office.
“Ecuador is on the right side of history. Jerusalem is our eternal capital,” Sa’ar tells the ministers.
“During the meeting, the parties also discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation and regional issues, with Iran at the forefront,” Sa’ar’s office adds in a statement, saying that the foreign minister “emphasized that a nuclear Iran poses the greatest threat to regional and global peace.”
In March, after speaking with Sommerfeld, Sa’ar announced Quito’s intention to open the Jerusalem office.
Currently, six countries have embassies in Jerusalem — the US, Guatemala, Honduras, Kosovo, Papua New Guinea and Paraguay. Fiji said in February that it would move its embassy as well.
The Times of Israel Community.