From the Liveblog of
Monday, October 20, 2025
Israel calls for renewed ties with Bolivia after country elects new center-right president
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Israel welcomes the election of Rodrigo Paz after Bolivians elected a pro-business center-right senator as their new president, ending two decades of socialist rule, saying that Jerusalem hoped this would herald a “new chapter” in relations between the countries.
Bolivia severed ties with Israel in November 2023, accusing it of crimes against humanity in its response to the October, 7, 2023 Hamas massacre.
“I congratulate President-elect Rodrigo Paz on his election as the new President of Bolivia,” Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar says in a statement. “We extend our warm wishes to the Bolivian people for their democratic process and their choice for renewal.”
“Bolivia has a long history of friendship with Israel and the Jewish people. We look forward to opening a new chapter in our bilateral relations and advancing cooperation in a wide range of fields for the benefit of both nations,” Sa’ar says.
In his victory address, Paz said Bolivia was “reclaiming its place on the international stage.”
Paz also said he had received a congratulatory message from US President Donald Trump, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington “stands ready to partner with Bolivia on shared priorities.”
Under ex-president Evo Morales, Bolivia took a sharp turn to the left: nationalizing energy resources, breaking ties with Washington and making alliances with China, Russia and fellow leftists in Cuba, Venezuela and elsewhere in Latin America.
The Times of Israel Community.