Israel and Belize have long had an uneasy relationship. That’s
because it is widely held that Israel strongly supports Guatemala in its claim
against Belize. But today in a surprise diplomatic move – Foreign Minister
Wilfred Elrington boldly cemented relations with Israel – allowing a visa
waiver and a technical assistance programme. We suspect that it is the kind
of thing that could not have happened during the last government when Said Musa
who is of Palestinian descent was the Prime Minister. But things change and
Elrington today said the new pact will help Belize with knowledge. Jacqueline
Godwin was there and she has the full story.
Jacqueline Godwin Reporting,
Today was a historic moment in strengthening relationships between the state
of Israel and the country of Belize. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed
that will finally open doors that promise to boost tourism and the productive
sector. Signing on behalf of the state of Israel was its ambassador based at
the embassy in San Salvador Mattanay Chen and Belize’s Attorney General
and Foreign Affairs Minister Wilfred Elrington.
Hon. Wilfred Elrington, Minister of Foreign Affairs
“This is a time when we are venturing into the world of trade and
investment. It is a world that is really signalled by knowledge. It is driven
almost exclusively by knowledge and the Israelis have proven themselves to be
perhaps one of the most knowledgeable people in the world. They have done tremendous 
work in research and development in all areas of activity and we believe that
Belize can only benefit.”
Mattanya Cohen, Israel Ambassador - San Salvador
“The waiver of visa requirements between the two countries, I want
to tell you that annually 50 to 60 Israelis, no more than that, visit Belize.
I don’t how many Belizeans visit Israel, also very short in number and
mostly because of the visa requirements, Israelis do not come to Belize. I am
talking about tourists and I want you to know that we have thousands of youngsters,
Israelis, coming to Guatemala every year. They visit Guatemala but when they
come to enter Belize, they don’t do that because of the visa requirements.
So I am expecting that as a result of this agreement, we will have more
Israelis tourists here in this beautiful country of Belize. This is one thing
and the other thing, I expect more Israeli businessmen to come here to Belize.
The third goal was to enhance the international cooperation, the technical cooperation
between Israel and Belize. The Israel international cooperation program has
50 years of existence. In those years we’ve sent hundreds of thousands
of scholarships to study in Israel from all over the world, especially from
developing countries and also we sent experts from Israel to those countries.”
As pointed out by the Minister of Foreign Affairs to the media, Belize has
always been an ally of the state of Israel and was once considered by the United
Nations in the 1930’s and 1940’s to be one of the possible locations
for a Jewish homeland.
Mattanya Cohen,
“In the beginning of the century there were a few ideas about where
to build the new Jewish state. We were talking about Uganda in Africa, we were
talking about Belize and other places. But definitely we will not agree to go
anywhere. The land of Israel is the historic land of the Jewish people for the
last 4,000 years. So the State of Israel is the only place for the Jews. It
is the only country for the Jews; we wouldn’t have accepted any other
place. Of course thanks for any other offer that we received but the State of
Israel is in the land of Israel and this is where it is going to be.”
Foreign Affairs Minister Wilfred Elrington says the signing is timely as they
are aggressively seeking investments in Belize.
Hon. Wilfred Elrington,
“In every sphere we believe that we don’t have the capacity
here to do what we need to do to develop our country as rapidly as it needs
to be developed, if in fact we are to be competitive in the world. And so we
are not only looking to Israel, we are looking all over the world for people
to come, bring their technology, bring their capital, bring their skilled labour,
and to help us to develop this country. And this initiative with Israel is only
one such initiative but wherever we go since our government got into office,
wherever we go, we are soliciting and inviting people to come in a joint venture
with us for the development of our country.
We understand the difficulties that Israel has with the Palestinians and
we understand that, we know the realities of that but certainly we do not think
that by signing this agreement with the Israelis we are in any way prejudicing
any of our sides with respect to that issue.”
It is no secret that the state of Israel is a great ally of Guatemala. In response
to a question from the media, the Minister of Foreign Affairs believes today’s
signing will have no negative impact on Belize with the ongoing dispute between
Belize and Guatemala.
Hon. Wilfred Elrington,
“The truth is that the Guatemalan business people have been very aggressively
investing in Belize. The people living on the border of Belize and Guatemala
have been exchanging activities over the years.
We are expecting that the dispute is going to be resolved in the courts
at some time in the future but in the interim we have to live together and we
have to live in peace. And so we are certainly not taking the attitude that
you’re not supposed to have anything to do with Guatemala. We don’t
think that is a wise and progressive attitude at all. We are strong on our position
that Belize is ours and we are not going to relinquish any part of Belize but
I can’t see why because of a dispute we have with Guatemala and because
Israel is an ally of Guatemala we should not in fact be having closer relations
with Israel. We don’t have a dispute with Israel; we have a dispute with
Guatemala.”
In July Israel nominated Mrs Rosalinda Wischenka as its honorary consul
for Israel in Belize.
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