Foreign Minister Antonia Urrejola addressed the impasse with Israel’s ambassador to Chile, Gil Artzyeli, after President Gabriel Boric last week refused to receive his credentials. On the president’s decision, Urrejola said he discussed it with him and pointed out that “it is the decision that corresponds.”
“The President made a decision that we discussed, and I think it is the decision that corresponds,” the foreign minister said in conversation with El Mercurio.
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When asked about Israel’s criticism of the decision (described as “extremely serious” and “unprecedented” by the Foreign Ministry of that country), Urrejola avoided commenting on it. “I will stick with what the ambassador (of Israel) himself said, that we have turned the page,” the secretary of state said.
In that line, he reiterated that “we will be on Friday 30 (September) with the presentation of credentials.”
Likewise, Minister Urrejola pointed out that “there is a permanent relationship, both with the Jewish Community and with that of Palestine through the government ministers.” He maintained that the minister of the Segpres, Ana Lya Uriarte, “met with the Jewish Community and, previously, Minister (Giorgio) Jackson did it and I myself have met.”
“Here there is no discrimination against a religion, groups of people or communities; they are all welcome,” the secretary of state said.
The impasse
President Boric declined last Thursday to receive the credentials of Israel’s ambassador to Chile. This, after the Israeli army murdered a 17-year-old Palestinian boy the night before.
On Friday, the Government of Israel expressed its annoyance with the President’s decision. Through a statement on its social networks, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of that country described the decision of the head of state as “extremely serious” and “unprecedented.”
Days later, Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Ximena Fuentes contacted the director general of Israel’s Foreign Ministry, Alon Usphiz, to apologize for the impasse. The Israeli government appreciated the apology.
Ushpiz told Fuentes that his country “welcomes the call for apologies, since in effect, it is a serious incident, which could have caused serious damage to relations between Israel and Chile.”
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