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Representatives of the Latin American Network of Former Fellows and Friends of Israel (RLEBAI) — a network spanning 18 countries — formalized their adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism at a ceremony in Buenos Aires, Argentina, last week.
The initiative gained momentum after RLEBAI’s vice president participated in CAM’s recent Latin American Forum Against Antisemitism in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where discussions about adopting the definition began.
CAM played an active role throughout the RLEBAI’ delegation’s visit to the Argentine capital. CAM Director of Hispanic Affairs Shay Salamon presented CAM’s global and Latin American work to the delegation and emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation as the network advances its 2026 vision.
The delegation, composed of former fellows of Mashav, Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation, was received by Israeli Ambassador Eyal Sela and Deputy Ambassador Anna Keinan. Conversations focused on the impact of the Mashav program, the work each representative leads in their home country, and the need to continue deepening this relationship.
Earlier in the day, the group visited AMIA, where Executive Director Daniel Pomerantz welcomed them, led a visit to the memorial plaza, and explained the institution’s historical significance for the Jewish community.
Over the past four years, CAM has expanded its outreach across Latin America, building partnerships with leaders, diplomats, legislators, and civil society organizations from diverse political, cultural, and religious backgrounds. Through CAM en Español, this regional work now spans Uruguay, Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Colombia, Panama, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Mexico, Ecuador, and Bolivia, strengthened by annual regional summits hosted since 2021. In October, CAM held its fifth-annual Latin American Forum Against Antisemitism in Rio de Janeiro.
In September, eight mayors from Colombia adopted the IHRA definition in a historic ceremony in Bogotá, marking an important milestone for IHRA implementation in the region.
The meetings in Buenos Aires mark the beginning of a strengthened collaboration between CAM and RLEBAI and lay the groundwork for future joint programs focused on education, memory, and the fight against antisemitism and intolerance across Latin America.
