Israel receives new ambassadors from Chile and Honduras

Israeli President Isaac Herzog accepted the credentials of six new ambassadors on Monday, including Chilean envoy Gabriel Alejandro Zaliasnik Schilkurt and Honduran envoy José Luis Núñez Bennet. Their appointments restore full diplomatic representation in Israel for the two Latin American nations for the first time since the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attacks and the ensuing Gaza war, ending more than two years of strained relations.

The ceremony also featured ambassadors from Germany, Nigeria, Georgia and Sri Lanka, underscoring a broader diplomatic shift in the region. Chile’s President José Antonio Kast had pledged to reinstate the post during a May visit to Israel, while Honduras’ President Nasry Asfura, himself the son of Palestinian immigrants, confirmed his decision to reactivate the mission. Israeli officials highlighted the move as a positive step amid ongoing efforts to rebuild Gaza and advance a U.S.-backed peace framework.

The restoration signals a growing trend among conservative Latin American governments to strengthen ties with Israel after earlier boycotts following the Gaza conflict.