Media Releases
B’nai B’rith International has completed its 2026 Latin American Journalists Mission to Israel, a program that was initiated in 2019 to give journalists direct, firsthand access to Israeli society. The diplomatic mission is driven to provide context, counter misinformation and deepen understanding of the realities on the ground for those shaping the public’s perception on Israel.
This year’s delegation included 11 journalists from Argentina, Uruguay, Peru, Mexico and Costa Rica. Over six intensive days, they met with senior officials at Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, members of the Knesset from across the political spectrum, senior security figures, regional analysts and community leaders. They received briefings on Israel–Latin America relations, challenges at the United Nations and multifront regional security issues.
The delegation traveled across the country, including to Israel’s borders with Lebanon, Syria and Gaza, where they learned directly from Israeli officials about Iran’s role as an existential threat and the security challenges posed by Hamas and Hezbollah.
Witnessing the Aftermath of Oct. 7
A central component of the mission was witnessing the aftermath of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks. Journalists visited Sderot, Kibbutz Kfar Aza, Kibbutz Nahal Oz and the Nova music festival site, where they met with survivors and local leaders working to rebuild their communities. The delegation also met with former Israeli-Argentine hostage Eitan Horn, who shared the realities of two years in captivity. The journalists described the meeting with Horn as crucial, and all have already reported on it through print, radio or television outlets across Latin America.
Exploring Israel’s Religious and Social Diversity
The mission also highlighted Israel’s social and religious diversity. The delegation visited Bethlehem and engaged with a Palestinian Christian guide, toured Christian holy sites including Capernaum, and met with Druze and Aramean-Christian leaders in northern communities. In Majdal Shams, the journalists heard directly about the impact of Hezbollah’s missile attacks just under two years ago, resulting in the murder of 12 children playing soccer.
Holocaust Remembrance
The delegation also visited Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center, where they learned about the history of European Jewry and the systematic genocide of six million Jews during the Holocaust. The visit highlighted the dangers of rising anti-Semitism and underscored the importance of Israel to the survival of the Jewish people.
Since 2019, B’nai B’rith has organized these missions to give journalists direct engagement with the realities on the ground that Israel faces every day. Participants in this year’s delegation emphasized the importance of informed, on-the-ground reporting in shaping responsible international coverage.