B’nai B’rith’s latest Latin American Journalists Mission to Israel began on Feb. 15 with a delegation including 11 journalists: Five from Argentina, two from Uruguay, two from Peru, one from Mexico and one from Costa Rica.

B’nai B’rith has hosted these missions for a decade as part of its ongoing effort to combat misinformation, give journalists an unfiltered view of Israeli society and raise international awareness of current realities on the ground.

The first day started with three main meetings at Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs(MFA):

 

Strengthening Israel–Latin America Relations

In the first meeting with Amb. Yinam Cohen, head of the division of Latin America and the Caribbean, the delegation discussed the ongoing political changes of the past two years, which have significantly shifted bilateral relations between Israel and many Latin American governments in a positive direction.

Countries highlighted included Argentina, Paraguay, Ecuador, Bolivia, Honduras, Panama, El Salvador and Costa Rica,with Chile expected to follow in the near future.

Cohen emphasized that 2026 is expected to be a year of positive developments between Israel and Latin America.

Challenges at the United Nations

In the next meeting, Amb. Ohad Zemet, director of the United Nations political affairs department, addressed the difficult relationship between Israel and various U.N. agencies.

He explained that each year dozens of non-binding, yet harmful resolutions, are passed against Israel, shaping international discourse despite their lack of legal force.

Regional Complexity and Uncertainty

Amb. Jonathan Zadka Speaking to the DelegationLastly, the head of the Middle East Bureau, Ambassador Jonathan Zadka, presented the delegation with the

complexity of current multifront regional issues.

Zadka emphasized that while there are certain expectations surrounding this week’s Board of Peace meeting, the overall regional situation remains unclear—including the real future of Gaza, developments in Lebanon and the trajectory of the Abraham Accords.

The Latin American mission to Israel is co-organized by Director of the B’nai B’rith World Center-Jerusalem Alan Schneider and B’nai B’rith Latin American Affairs Director Eduardo Kohn, and guided by Gabriel Ben Tasgal.