Isaac Herzog Visits Panama and Costa Rica as Israel Seeks UN Support

Israel’s war on Gaza has prompted growing international opprobrium, and President Isaac Herzog is set to visit Panama and Costa Rica as part of Israel’s diplomatic outreach. Al Jazeera says Herzog’s trip is scheduled for May 6, with the Israeli Foreign Ministry stating he will depart Israel on May 6 for a four-day official visit to Panama and Costa Rica. The outlet also links the trip to Israel’s effort to maintain allies at international fora such as the United Nations, noting Panama’s “two-year term as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.” Al Jazeera adds that Panama and Costa Rica abstained on a 2024 UN resolution calling on Israel to end the illegal occupation of Palestinian territory, and that Panama was among the 12 countries that abstained in a September vote in favor of a two-state solution.

“As Israel faces growing international isolation over its regional wars, President Isaac Herzog is set to visit two countries in Central America – Panama and Costa Rica – to boost ties”

Al Jazeera

In parallel with the Gaza war’s diplomatic fallout, Haaretz reports that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has yet to respond to President Isaac Herzog’s proposal to discuss a plea deal in Netanyahu’s ongoing criminal trials, despite the deadline passing earlier this week. Haaretz frames the situation as Herzog’s overtures on a plea deal, while Aurora Israel describes a separate effort to mediate out of court, saying the attorney general tells Herzog that she is willing to discuss a deal with Netanyahu outside of court if there are no preconditions. Aurora Israel also says last week Herzog’s legal advisor invited Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara and the legal team defending Netanyahu in his corruption trial to discuss reaching an out-of-court settlement. It adds that Netanyahu’s lawyers have not yet responded to Herzog’s invitation, while the letter signed by Baharav-Miara’s assistant indicates prosecutors are willing to discuss the case with the defense if there are no preconditions and the trial is not jeopardized.

The sources portray the stakes of Herzog’s tour as tied to Israel’s ability to secure dependable allies during the Gaza war, with Al Jazeera noting that a handful of countries have continued to tout strong ties with Israel while others have criticized it. Senego reports that Herzog’s trip comes as Israel seeks to bolster its support in international forums, and it cites Al Jazeera in saying Herzog will first travel to Panama to meet President Jose Raul Mulino and other government officials before continuing to Costa Rica for the inauguration of President-elect Laura Fernandez Delgado. Senego also states that the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs presents Panama as a “true friend of Israel” and a current member of the UN Security Council, and it says the Israeli head of state is expected to participate in a dinner bringing together heads of state and to meet members of the Jewish community in both countries. In the same broader context, the World Socialist Web Site claims that Germany’s Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier received Herzog in Berlin with “full military honors,” and it quotes Steinmeier at a joint press conference saying, “Your country was invaded by Hamas.”

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Haaretz