BOLIVIA CONDEMNS "ISRAELI CRIMINAL AGGRESSION"

C O N F I D E N T I A L LA PAZ 002671 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/30/2018 TAGS: IS ASEC PGOV PINR PREL KTER BL SUBJECT: BOLIVIA CONDEMNS "ISRAELI CRIMINAL AGGRESSION" Classified By: Acting EcoPol Chief Brian Quigley for reasons 1.4 (b,d.) ¶1. SUMMARY. (SBU) In response to the violence in the Gaza strip, on December 29 Bolivian Foreign Minister David Choquehuanca condemned Israel for its "criminal aggression." "We completely disapprove," Choquehuanca told press and announced that Bolivia had demanded that the United Nations (UN) intervene to stop the attacks. The condemnation continued December 30, as Palestinians in Bolivia protested in the streets against what they call a "massacre backed by President Bush." END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) On December 29, Bolivian Foreign Minister David Choquehuanca publicly condemned Israel to the press. Choquehuanca staunchly defended Hamas, saying that Israel was violating the Palestinian's international human rights to live in their own territory. Choquehuanca also confirmed that Bolivia had called on the UN to intervene to stop the "collective punishment on all of those living in the region, under the argument that it's a response to the action taken by a few militants." ¶3. (SBU) Bolivia is a hotspot for young Israeli tourists, but it was Palestinians in the country that came out December 30 to protest the attacks on Gaza. "They're killing us in our own territory...it's a massacre," said the groups, marching in the state of Santa Cruz. Representatives also criticized the U.S., saying that Israel acted with "impunity" because it was confident in the backing of President Bush. The marchers claimed that the past 8 years have been "harmful" for the Arab people, particularly Palestinians. The protesters plan to hold a national march on Monday January 5, to which they have invited "all of the Palestinians, all of the Arabs, and all of the Bolivians" to participate. (NOTE: Bolivia has a small Arab-Palestinian immigrant community dating back to the 1940's. END NOTE.) ¶4. (C) COMMENT. Bolivia's quick criticism of Israel and defense of Hamas could be expected. Morales' loyalty to his new-found ally in Iran, coupled with his disdain for the U.S., creates a one-sided view of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. As long as Morales is convinced that the U.S. is aligned with Israel, he will continue to be a friendly face to the expanding Arab presence in Latin America. END COMMENT. LAMBERT