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The Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) was honored to participate in the annual Latin America regional forum held by the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ) last week at Shevet Ahim Synagogue in Panama City, Panama.
Opening remarks were delivered by Chief Rabbi of Panama David Peretz, followed by President of the Anti-Defamation Commission of B’nai B’rith Panama Daniel Shamah.
Speaking on behalf of CAM was Director of Hispanic Affairs Shay Salamon, who had recently visited Israel, Spain, Mexico as part of his work leading CAM en Español.
Salamon introduced Governor of Panama Carla Garcia, who earlier this month participated in a CAM-organized four-day solidarity tour of Israel with a half-dozen other Latin American governors and mayors.
“I thank you for allowing me to be part of this space of encounter between the Jewish community and the evangelical community, where we witness our commitment to dialogue and peace,” Garcia said. “Recently, a group of governors and mayors from Latin America were invited by CAM to Israel to experience the very impressive and very sad reality that our brothers and sisters, the people of Israel, live. We witnessed the consequences of what happened on October 7th, we heard the testimonies, saw the communities in ruins and the painful suffering, and also met those who volunteered to go out and defend their homes, such as in Ofakim. It is a very resilient country.”
Luego de ser parte del Viaje de Solidaridad con Israel organizado por CAM, la Gobernadora de Panamá, Carla García Borace, compartió unas importantes palabras sobre su experiencia con todos los asistentes a la reunión regional anual de ICEJ en Panamá.
¡Agradecemos a la Gobernadora… pic.twitter.com/MSXOperP5S— CAM en Español (@CAMenEspanol) March 27, 2024
Other speakers included H.E. Israeli Ambassador to Panama Itai Bardov, Deputy Director of ICEJ-Panama Pastor Yeni Moreno, and ICEJ Vice President for International Affairs Dr. Mojmir Kallus.
Fue un honor participar de la reunión regional anual de ICEJ en Panamá que tuvo lugar en la comunidad Shevet Ajim, y contó con la intervención del rabino de la comunidad, el Embajador de Israel, el Vicepresidente global de ICEJ y el representante de B’nai B’rith en Panamá, entre… pic.twitter.com/FlUhILtY2V
— CAM en Español (@CAMenEspanol) March 22, 2024
Prior to the Panama event, Salamon was in Mexico for CAM’s first-ever official visit to the country. Salamon met with Mexican Jewish leaders and attended a communal event co-organized with WIZO Mexico.
CAM’s outreach in Latin America began nearly three years ago, and since then it has worked diligently to build meaningful partnerships and friendships with influential leaders, lawmakers, community organizations, and civil society activists from a diverse assortment of religious, political and cultural backgrounds in the region to combat antisemitism together.
During this time, CAM en Español has emerged as a key player in the battle against Jew-hatred in Latin America, with a growing coalition engaged in impactful activities in countries including Uruguay, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Panama, and Guatemala, among others.
CAM en Español has organized regional summits hosted by Uruguay in 2023, Panama in 2022, and Guatemala in 2021.
Immediately after October 7th, CAM en Español jumped into action to mobilize support for Israel and respond to incidents of antisemitism across Latin America, meeting with regional leaders, holding educational webinars, promoting social media campaigns, and raising funds for Israeli emergency relief organizations.
Last month, CAM announced that Spanish journalist and former politician Pilar Rahola would serve as chair of its new Advisory Board for Latin America.
