Yucatán-Israel institutional cooperation debate

The presence of the Israeli Ambassador and several agricultural technology companies at the Expo Pro Agro Innovación 2026 in Mérida sparked debate among civil organizations regarding strategic alliances between Yucatán and Israeli institutions. Concerns were raised following reports of inconsistencies in official communications and the existence of a 2021 Letter of Intent signed by the previous administration to establish institutional cooperation.

In response to pressure from the Committee of Solidarity with Palestine in Yucatán—which demanded the state reject Israeli investment to avoid supporting a “war economy”—the current administration under Governor Joaquín Díaz Mena stated it will not continue the cooperation efforts outlined in the 2021 document. State officials clarified that the previous letter of intent carries no legal or normative obligations for the current government and confirmed there are no active contracts with Israeli companies concerning water resources, agriculture, or public security. The government has invited activists to a dialogue table to address these concerns.