Politics

By Pesach Benson • December 10, 2025

Jerusalem, 10 December, 2025 (TPS-IL) — israel and Bolivia formally renewed diplomatic relations, ending more than a decade of estrangement with the signing of a joint declaration in Washington, Israel’s Foreign Ministry announced Wednesday morning. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and his Bolivian counterpart, Fernando Aramayo, signed the agreement during a ceremony also attended by Bolivia’s Minister of Finance and Economy, José Gabriel Espinosa.

The declaration commits both countries to restoring full diplomatic ties, reopening channels of cooperation and appointing ambassadors “as soon as possible.”

Bolivia’s left-wing government of Evo Morales broke diplomatic ties with Israel in 2009 during a three-week war in response to Hamas rocket attacks. The new center-right government of President Rodrigo Paz, who took office in november, seeks warmer ties with Israel and the U.S.

Sa’ar said the step marks the close of “a long and unnecessary chapter of estrangement” and emphasized that both sides had agreed on a clear framework for rebuilding relations. “We agreed to restore full diplomatic relations and appoint ambassadors in the near future,” he said. “We exchanged mutual invitations to representatives of the government and the private sector. We will visit each other’s countries to explore new opportunities for cooperation.”

He added that ongoing dialogue between the foreign ministries will address bilateral, regional and multilateral issues, with the aim of strengthening ties across multiple fields. Sa’ar also highlighted the recent cancellation of visa requirements for Israeli tourists to Bolivia, saying he expects “thousands of Israelis will return to visit this beautiful country every year,” helping reinforce what he called a “human bridge between the peoples.”

The foreign minister cast the renewal as part of a broader diplomatic push in Latin America. “Strengthening relations with Latin American countries is a key goal of my foreign policy for 2026,” he said. “Renewing and building relations with Bolivia is a cornerstone of this policy. Today, Israel and Bolivia are opening a new page in their relations.”