Israeli FM Sa’ar Urges a Renewal of Relations With Bolivia Following Rodrigo Paz’s Victory
Israel expressed hope for renewed diplomatic relations with Bolivia following the election of Rodrigo Paz, a center-right senator who pledged to restore the country’s international reputation and strengthen global partnerships.
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar congratulated Paz on his victory and said Jerusalem “looks forward to opening a new chapter” between the two nations. “Bolivia has a long history of friendship with Israel and the Jewish people,” Sa’ar said, adding that Israel seeks to advance cooperation “in a wide range of fields for the benefit of both nations.”
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Bolivia severed ties with Israel in November 2023, accusing it of crimes against humanity in its military response to the October 7 Hamas attack. The rupture followed years of strained relations under the country’s socialist leadership. Paz’s win ended two decades of leftist dominance and was welcomed in Jerusalem as a possible opening to rebuild diplomatic and economic ties.
In his victory speech, Paz said Bolivia was “reclaiming its place on the international stage.” He noted that US President Donald Trump had sent his congratulations, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington “stands ready to partner with Bolivia on shared priorities.”
Bolivia’s previous leftist government, led by Evo Morales, had first cut ties with Israel in 2009. Those relations were restored briefly in 2019 after Morales’ resignation, when an interim administration reversed his foreign policy stance.
At the time, Bolivia’s acting foreign minister, Karen Longaric, said the move was part of “rebuilding relations” with nations previously alienated by the Morales government. However, the brief rapprochement was ended with Bolivia cutting ties with Israel again with the beginning of the Gaza ground war in November 2023.
