El Salvador–Palestine relations

El Salvador–Palestine relations refers to the diplomatic relations between the Republic of El Salvador and the State of Palestine. Both nations enjoy friendly relations, the importance of which centers on the history of Palestinian migration to El Salvador. There is a community of approximately 60,000–100,000 people of Palestinian origin in El Salvador.[1]

El Salvador–Palestine relations

El Salvador
Palestine

History

Between 1892–1918, over 90 Palestinians, primarily from Bethlehem, arrived to El Salvador and settled in the country. Many were escaping conscription into the Ottoman Army and World War I.[1] Over time, more Palestinians would arrive to El Salvador and work in various industries in the country. In 1933, the Salvadoran government passed a law barring further immigration from middle eastern countries to El Salvador.[2] In 1947, El Salvador abstained from voting in the United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine.

In May 2009, Salvadoran President of Palestinian origin, Antonio Saca, paid a visit to the city of Bethlehem in Palestine. While there, President Saca stated that: Palestine must exist, but Israel must also have secure borders, that is the position that the country will continue to maintain with respect to the Palestinian people and the Jewish people.[3] While in Bethlehem, President Saca met with Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad. During their meeting, both leaders discussed relations between both nations and Prime Minister Fayyad thanked President Saca for his country's decision of moving the Salvadoran embassy from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv in 2006.[3] During his time in Bethlehem, President Saca met with the Salvadoran community residing in Palestine.

In October 2011, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas paid an official visit to El Salvador.[4] While in El Salvador, President Abbas met with Salvadoran President Mauricio Funes. During their meeting's, President Funes stated: "We want to strengthen our relationship with Palestine ... and contribute to the reestablishment of talks between Palestine and Israel"[4] President Funes officially recognized Palestine as an independent country.[4] In May 2013, El Salvador and Palestine established diplomatic relations with the visit of Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki to El Salvador.[5] In October 2018, Palestine opened a resident embassy in San Salvador and appointed an ambassador to El Salvador.[6]

In 2019, Nayib Bukele, of Palestinian origin, was elected as President of El Salvador.

Diplomatic missions

See also

References
  1. El Salvador race coming down to two Palestinians
  2. La travesía árabe-palestina que llegó a El Salvador (in Spanish)
  3. Saca dice que "Palestina debe existir e Israel debe tener fronteras seguras" (in Spanish)
  4. Abbas stumps for Palestinian statehood in El Salvador
  5. El Salvador establece relaciones diplomáticas con Palestina (in Spanish)
  6. El Estado Palestino abre su embajada en El Salvador (in Spanish)
  7. Honorary consulate of El Salvador in Bethlehem, Palestine (in Spanish)
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