Santiago, 24 December 2022 (TDI): The President of Chile, Gabriel Boric announced that his administration will open an Embassy in the Palestinian territories, raising the status of Chile’s diplomatic representative in Palestine.
The current Chilean Charge d’Affaires in Palestine does have the rank of Ambassador. President Boric expressed these views while attending an event at the Palestinian Club in Santiago City. Boric also ratified his solidarity with the Palestinian people.
In this vein, he said, “We cannot forget that a community is suffering from illegal occupation. It is resisting while its rights and dignity are violated. That is absolutely unfair.”
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President reiterated the importance of the initiative, “I am taking an important step. We intend to expand our official representation in Palestine beyond a charge d’affaires. Now we are going to open an Embassy.”
The Foreign Ministry of Palestine welcomed the decision while releasing a statement on its official Twitter account.
The statement said, “Palestine affirms the principled position of Chile and its president in support of international law and the right of the Palestinian people to establish their independent state.”
President Boric has always been a staunch supporter of Palestine. He refused to receive the credentials of Israel’s new Ambassador to Chile in September after Israeli soldiers killed a Palestinian teenager.
Foreign Minister affirms the decision
The Foreign Affairs Minister of Chile, Antonia Urrejola held a press conference to offer more details about President Boric’s announcement.
She explained that the administration will raise the level of diplomatic representation to move towards the establishment of an Embassy in Palestine. A country we have had relations with since 1998.
Urrejola announced that Chile will establish an honorary consulate in Bethlehem. Since it is one of the main areas of origin of the Palestinian community residing in Chile, the representation will facilitate the reciprocal link between the parties.
Chile previously opened a representative office in Ramallah in 1998. In 2011, it recognized Palestine as a state and endorsed its membership in United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
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It is pertinent to note that the Palestinian population in Chile is believed to comprise about 300,000 people. Many of them are descended from families from the Bethlehem region of the West Bank of Palestine.
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