Israeli embassy in Mexico vandalized during protests

Israel’s embassy in Mexico City is vandalized by demonstrators calling on Israel to extradite a former senior official wanted in connection with the disappearance of 43 students in 2014.

The demonstrators defaced the embassy, including slogans of “Death to Israel.”

After the incident, Israel issues a summons to the Mexican ambassador in Israel.

“We view this issue very gravely. We expect that Mexico will fulfill its international obligations,” says Foreign Ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon.

They are demanding the extradition of Tomas Zeron, the former head of the Criminal Investigation Agency.

Zuron, who is in Israel and seeking asylum, is facing allegations of serious irregularities surrounding a probe into one of the country’s worst human rights tragedies, as well as accusations of torture and embezzlement.

Zeron is wanted on charges of compromising an investigation into the disappearance of 43 students in 2014. He is also accused of embezzling over $50 million and torturing suspects.

Zeron fled Mexico after the case into the mass abduction was reopened, following the election of Lopez Obrador in 2019. He has been in Israel since and has requested asylum.

A New York Times report last year said Israel is not cooperating in protest of Mexico’s support for human rights investigations of Israel at the United Nations.