Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) Director of Hispanic Outreach Shay Salamon met this week with Guatemalan Minister of Foreign Affairs Mario Búcaro — who is also a CAM Advisory Board member — to discuss a range of important issues related to the fight against Jew-hatred.
Salamon thanked Búcaro for the Republic of Guatemala’s longstanding allyship with the Jewish people, manifested by actions such as adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism on June 2022 by the administration of outgoing President Dr. Alejandro Giammattei.
“Without a doubt, Guatemala has shown throughout history its firm commitment to the Jewish people and the Jewish state, and we believe that the future governments will continue to do so as well,” Salamon said, referring to the results of the country’s recent elections.
In 2021, Guatemala hosted the first-ever Central America Forum for Israel, with President Giammattei delivering keynote remarks and other speakers including high-level officials from countries across the region, as well as then-Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs Yair Lapid.
Last September, at the second forum in Panama, Minister Búcaro — who was Guatemala’s ambassador to Israel when the country moved its embassy to Jerusalem in 2018 — was recognized by CAM with the Diplomatic Advocate for Israel Award.
While in Guatemala this week, Salamon also held a series of meetings with diplomats, NGO representatives, and members of the Guatemala-Israel Friendship League.
CAM looks forward to continued collaboration with Guatemala to promote the values of interfaith tolerance, equality, and diversity in the country and throughout Latin America in the years ahead.
