 | |
 Israel |  Bolivia |
|---|---|
| Diplomatic mission | |
| Embassy of Israel,La Paz (closed) | Embassy of Bolivia,Tel Aviv (closed) |
| Envoy | |
| None | None |
ThePlurinational State of Bolivia and theState of Israel first established a diplomatic relationship with each other in 1950, two years after theIsraeli Declaration of Independence and one year after Boliviarecognized Israel's sovereignty.[1][2] Both countries enjoyed generally stable and close ties until the beginning of the 21st century, when successive Bolivian governments became vocally opposed to Israeli military operations in theGaza Strip, which are formally againstHamas.[3] Under the Bolivian political partyMovement for Socialism, which has governed the country on a near-continuous basis since 2006, Bolivia has adopted an increasingly pro-Palestinian stance at theUnited Nations with regard to theIsraeli–Palestinian conflict, eliciting a negative response from the Israeli government.
In 2009, after an uninterrupted 59 years, Bolivian presidentEvo Morales severed the country's government-level ties with Israel for the first time, decrying the Palestinian death toll in the Israeli military's "Operation Cast Lead" in the Gaza Strip. However, their economic ties and visa waiver program for travel remained intact. Following the outbreak of the2014 Gaza War, Morales designated Israel as a "terrorist state" and cancelled the Bolivian–Israeli visa waiver agreement, which had been signed in 1972, while also promising to cut bilateral economic ties and ban all Israelis from visiting Bolivia. In 2019, Morales resigned from the presidency under pressure from the then-ongoingBolivian protests and was succeeded byJeanine Áñez of theSocial Democratic Movement, after which Bolivia restored diplomatic relations with Israel and several other countries.[4][5] In 2020, the Movement for Socialism party returned to power under the presidency ofLuis Arce, who severed the country's ties with Israel on 31 October 2023,[6][7] decrying thePalestinian death toll in theGaza war.[6] Following the2025 Bolivian general election, there are plans to reestablish relations between the two countries.
Bolivia officially recognized Israel in February 1949[1] and relations were officially established in 1950. The first official visit by one of the two countries was made by the Bolivian Minister of Finance Quadro Sanchez who came to Israel along with the President of theCentral Bank of Bolivia Paz Anzeana fromIstanbul at the invitation of the Israeli government.[2]
In 1957, Bolivia accreditedWalter Guevara-Arze, its ambassador in Paris, as chargé d'affaires in Israel.[8] On 29 November of that year, Guevara-Arze presented his credentials to the President of Israel,Yitzhak Ben-Zvi, thus formally establishing diplomatic relations between Israel and Bolivia.[9]
During the military coups that took place in Bolivia between 1964 and 1982, close ties existed between Bolivia and Israel. Israel soldUzi submachine guns, ammunition and aircraft to Bolivia, and in return Bolivia supported Israel on the international stage.[10][11]
In August 1964 the Commander of theBolivian Armed Forces, GeneralAlfredo Ovando Candia, visited Israel along with other senior Bolivian military personnel.[12]
FollowingOperation Cast Lead in 2008–2009, Bolivia severed relations with Israel and expelled the Israeli ambassadorShlomo Cohen as well as seven members of the diplomatic mission, after the decision of PresidentEvo Morales of the leftist Movement for Socialism party that came to power in 2006. Following the decision, the leader of the Jewish community in the country, Abraham Levi, stated that the Bolivian government "has taken a position of aterrorist group, supportingHamas and not accepting the arguments of the Israeli government."[13] Morales was considered an ally of former Venezuelan PresidentHugo Chávez, who also severed diplomatic ties with Israel following the operation.[14]
In 2010, Israeli exports to Bolivia amounted to about $6 million, and imports from Bolivia to Israel about $3 million.
FollowingOperation Protective Edge in 2014, Morales declared Israel a "terror state" due to theIDF's activity in the operation that year.[15] As a result of the decision, the visa waiver that had been in place between the countries since the agreement signed between them in 1972 on the subject was cancelled.[16] Morales also promised to prohibit Israelis from visiting Bolivia.[17]
On 28 November 2019, Bolivian Foreign MinisterKaren Longaric announced the country's intention to resume diplomatic relations with Israel.[18] The Israeli Foreign MinistryIsrael Katz welcomed the decision.[19] This move came after Morales' resignation from the presidency, as he demonstrated pro-Iranian andanti-American positions, distancing himself from the Western world since taking office, after receiving political asylum in Mexico following widespread protests against his government, breaking into his home, and placing a bounty on his head.[20] It also renewed the visa waiver for Israelis touring Bolivia.
On 4 February 2020, for the first time in a decade, a delegation from the Israeli Foreign Ministry met with Bolivian PresidentJeanine Áñez, Foreign Minister Karen Longaric, cabinet members, and legislators in the capital La Paz.[21]
Following the31 October 2023 attack on Jabalia during theGaza war, the Bolivian government announced that it was severing diplomatic ties with Israel.[22] Foreign MinisterFreddy Mamani called Israel's response "disproportionate" and PresidentLuis Arce described the actions as "war crimes", with the Bolivianscalling for an immediate ceasefire.[23]
FollowingRodrigo Paz Pereira's win in the2025 Bolivian presidential election, he held a phone conversation with Israeli foreign ministerGideon Sa'ar, who stated his plans to reestablish relations between Bolivia and Israel. Sa'ar later announced his plans to send an Israeli representative to Paz Pereira's inauguration.[24]
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