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More than 1,000 people, including leading political figures, gathered in the Colombian capital of Bogotá on Sunday for the “Colombia Bless Israel” event hosted by Kehilat Yovel, the main partner of the Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) in Colombia.
Co-organizers included CAM, March of Life, and Keren Kayemet LeIsrael (KKL) – Colombia.
The speakers lineup featured Pastor Raul Rubio, Rabbi Yosef Garmon (who flew in from Guatemala), YouTuber Sergio Bacari (who flew in from Israel), and CAM Director of Hispanic Affairs Shay Salamon.
“The ties that exist are strong and transcend any political and thought differences,” Salamon said. “The friendship and brotherhood that unite both peoples are fundamental pillars to continue moving toward a more peaceful, prosperous, and hate-free future.”
“Let us unite in this effort to build a future where love and understanding are the pillars of our society,” he added. “Let us remember that together we can build a future where peace and justice shine for all.”
¡Colombia bendice a Israel! 🇮🇱🇨🇴
Emocionados por tener la oportunidad de compartir unas palabras en este gran evento lleno de emociones y muestras de solidaridad que nos recuerdan que la fuerza del amor, el respeto y la tolerancia es capaz de unirnos por encima de cualquier… pic.twitter.com/JTaYANracL— CAM en Español (@CAMenEspanol) July 15, 2024
Representatives of the Jewish community spoke as well, voicing their gratitude for the event and expressing concerns about rising antisemitism in their country nine months after the October 7th massacre in Israel.
Officials from the Israeli Embassy in Colombia were also present at the event, which came against the backdrop of Colombian President Gustavo Petro’s announcement in May that he would sever diplomatic ties with Israel over the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip, which he characterized as a “genocide.”
Salamon condemned Petro at the time, commenting, “Is this a surprise? Not at all! Petro’s continued antisemitic rhetoric is a personal problem that he wants to pass along to an entire nation. At CAM, we call a spade a spade. This decision demonstrates antisemitism and Petro’s pro-terrorism stance.”
Last year, CAM co-sponsored the “March of Life” Holocaust commemoration event in Bogotá, a cross-communal display of solidarity against antisemitism and all forms of hatred and discrimination.
This past May, Salamon spoke at the “Santa Marta, Magdalena, and the Caribbean Bless Israel” prayer and unity rally in the northern Colombian city of Santa Marta.
CAM’s outreach in Latin America began three years ago, and since then it has worked diligently to build meaningful partnerships and friendships with influential leaders, lawmakers, diplomats, 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 involved 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.
