The ongoing war between Hamas and Israel has led to a rise of antisemitism in the country. Pushing back against Latin American countries that have criticized Israel during this time, Florida Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R) is questioning the Biden administration over Latin American Socialist Antisemitism.
This week, Rep. Salazar argued that the leaders of several Latin American countries have openly displayed antisemitic comments and actions.
The Cuban regime has met with Hamas, Colombian President Gustavo Petro made antisemitic remarks, Chile and Honduras have both recalled their ambassadors to Israel, and Bolivia announced they were breaking their relations with Israel.
Salazar discussed this issue in a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing called "Friend and Ally: U.S. Support for Israel After Hamas’ Barbaric Attack.” As the Chairwoman of the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee, Salazar questioned several Biden officials over the recent actions from the aforementioned Latin American countries.
Questioning the Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Near East Affairs Barbara Leaf on the Cuban regime’s meeting with terrorist groups such as Hazbollah and Hamas, Leaf responded by saying that she was not aware of the meeting.
In a statement, Salazar commented that “President Biden’s State Department is totally unaware of and unwilling to respond to the rampant antisemitism several leaders of important Latin American countries have spewed over the last month.” “How can we appropriately defend our ally abroad if we don’t fight for them right in our backyard?” she questioned.
A press release from Salazar’s office provides other examples of Latin American leaders expressing antisemitic thoughts.
“President Petro has openly compared the Israelis to the Nazis while accusing them of planning a ‘second Holocaust’ against the Palestinians,” the release reads.
The press release also accuses the Biden administration of pandering to left-wing governments across Latin America, and Salazar’s office warns that “we are now seeing the consequences of fraternizing with those who display open hostility and antipathy toward Israel, the only democracy in the Middle East.”
