Israel - Guatemala
Bilateral relations between Israel and Guatemala date back 76 years.
The strengthening of Israeli cooperation with Guatemala has been exemplified in the areas of development projects in education, health, agriculture, public security, entrepreneurship, and innovation.
On May 16, 2018, the Embassy of Guatemala in Israel was relocated from Tel Aviv to the capital of the State of Israel, Jerusalem.
The formation of the Guatemala-Israel Parliamentary Friendship League, represented by the Legislative Body, includes more than 80 deputies from various political organizations.
Collaboration has also taken place with the Guatemalan business sector, with the notable project being the inauguration of the Guatemala-Israel Chamber of Commerce.
Currently, there is a Free Trade Agreement between Israel and Guatemala, which came into effect in March 2024.
In United Nations Resolution 181, Guatemala was the second country in Latin America after the United States to vote in favor of Israel's creation as a Jewish state. This vote was cast by Guatemala's Ambassador to the UN, Jorge Garcia Granados, during the presidency of Guatemala's Juan José Árevalo.
Guatemala was one of the 33 nations that voted in favor of the creation of a Jewish state on November 29, 1947.
In 1956, a diplomatic mission of Israel was established in Guatemala. Since that date, bilateral relations have strengthened.
The founder of the Israeli Agency for International Development Cooperation MASHAV, Golda Meir, made her visit to Guatemala.
The first Guatemalan scholarship recipient in agriculture is sent to Israel.
The Guatemala-Israel Parliamentary Friendship League is established, composed of members of different political parties from the Congress of the Republic.
On May 14th, the Legislative Body, through decree 12-2018, established the National Day of Friendship between the Republic of Guatemala and the State of Israel.
On May 16, 2018, the Embassy of Guatemala in Israel was relocated to the capital of Israel, Jerusalem, previously located in the city of Tel Aviv.
On June 22, 2018, the municipality of Guastatoya, the departmental seat of Progreso, inaugurated the first street named:
Jerusalem, capital of Israel, in commemoration of the 70 years of the State of Israel and the friendship and cooperation between both nations.
Currently, there are 36 streets with the same name in over 10 departments of Guatemala, including Guatemala City, Escuintla, Suchitepéquez, Sacatepéquez, Retalhuleu, San Marcos, Quetzaltenango, Jalapa, Jutiapa, Petén, Izabal, Zacapa, Chiquimula, Santa Rosa, and Quiché.
On October 25, 2018, a donation of 240 wheelchairs was made to children with special needs. The delivery was carried out by the Secretariat of Social Works of the President's Spouse (Sosep).
In December 2018, the historic visit of Mrs. Sara Netanyahu to Guatemala took place. She is the wife of the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu.
The Embassy of Israel was the first country in Guatemala to make the initial donation during the Covid-19 emergency situation.
Inauguration of the new headquarters of the Embassy of Israel in Guatemala
"The Embassy of Israel inaugurated on December 17, 2020, the first inclusive café, Shalom, which is staffed by young people with special needs from the Benemerito Committee for the Blind of Guatemala."
Israel, the first country to make a donation of 5,000 Covid-19 vaccines.
On February 25, 2021, Israel delivered this vaccine donation to Guatemala.
On January 31, the State of Israel, through the Embassy, delivered over 35 houses to families affected by the tragedy of the Fuego Volcano eruption in June 2018.
In April 2021, the Honorary Consulate of the Embassy of Israel in Guatemala was inaugurated in the city of Antigua, in the department of Sacatepéquez.
The Embassy of Israel, in collaboration with the Israeli agency MASHAV, in alliance with USAID and the Philos Project, carried out the delivery of 46 rainwater harvesting tanks to families living in poverty in the department of Huehuetenango.
On May 27th, the Embassy of Israel, in partnership with Orcam, an Israeli company, delivered the first artificial vision glasses to a child with visual impairment. Three devices have been donated to support children suffering from this condition.
On August 3rd, the Israel-Guatemala Chamber of Commerce was inaugurated, strengthening the commercial cooperation between both nations.
In October, the Director General of Mashav visited Guatemala for the second time to strengthen cooperation ties in academic and technological matters with Guatemala.
Visit of Ambassador Vivian Aisen, Director of the Mexico and Central America Department
On June 22nd, the inauguration of the Agricultural Modernization Center with Israeli technology took place. In this center, more than 1500 farmers from across the country have been trained.
Israel signs Free Trade Agreement with Guatemala, this ceremony took place on September 8th.
The FTA came into effect on March 1st, 2024.
A delegation of Israeli doctors visited Guatemala, they have done so on two occasions, to carry out free medical clinics.
Guatemala celebrates 75 years of friendship with the State of Israel, and in commemoration of this event, the Friendship Week between both nations was held with multiple activities, including the annual Pro-Israel March.
Israel makes a donation of school backpacks.
Guatemala shows solidarity and supports the State of Israel after the massacre on October 7th and calls for the release of the hostages.