Jewish human rights organisation criticizes Bolivia

A Jewish human rights organisation has criticised Chile and Colombia for recalling their ambassadors to Israel, as well as Bolivia for breaking its diplomatic relations with Israel in protest of the continuing military operation in the Gaza Strip.

The Simon Wiesenthal Center noted Wednesday that Bolivia never mentioned the October 7 Hamas attack against Israel in its decision to sever diplomatic ties with Israel and said the Andean country's decision on Tuesday has to do with Bolivia's partnership with Iran.

“Bolivia's alliance with Iran is becoming clearer every day considering that the breakup is not due to the real interests of the Bolivian people,” Ariel Gelblung, the centre's director for Latin America, said.

The centre characterised the decision by the governments of Colombia and Chile to recall their ambassadors on Tuesday evening “a clearly coordinated action.” “Both leaders have always been hostile toward Israel and both have a history of diplomatic disagreements with representatives of the Jewish State,” the organisation said.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro has devoted much of his account on X, formerly Twitter, to posting and retweeting criticism of Israel.

“The head of state who carries out this genocide is a criminal against humanity,” Petro wrote late Tuesday.

Bolivia, Chile and Colombia are all led by leftist governments. (AP)