Israel seeks allies in South America

Winston F. Burges

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina - Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman visited Argentina as part of his country's quest to establish closer economic and political ties in South America and curb Iran's influence in the region. His 10-day South American tour, which began in Brazil, will also take him to Peru and Colombia.

According to Télam, Lieberman said that this was the first visit to Argentina by an Israeli foreign minister in 23 years and that "now we are going to be proactive towards South America. Unfortunately, the Iranians got in before us, and because of that we want to build economic relationships with the countries in the region and compete with the incentives that they are offering ... Israel has to develop new contacts and build international coalitions that favor its influence and reinforce its interests, not just with the United States and the European Union."

During his stay in Brasilia, Lieberman told Folha de São Paulo that his country wants to convince the countries of Latin America that Iran's nuclear program is a danger not only to the Middle East but also to the world.

According to EFE, Lieberman, who heads the ultra-nationalist Yisrael Beitenu ("Israel, Our Home") party, became foreign minister in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition government when his party came third in February's elections.

In May, according to La Nación, Israel accused Venezuela and Bolivia of supplying Iran with uranium for its nuclear program. Israel's deputy foreign minister, Danny Ayalon, said that, "Israel, together with other countries, is worried by the Iranian infiltration in Latin America, mainly through Hezbollah, and this [is] definitely a matter to be discussed by the Israeli foreign minister and his counterparts."

Lieberman's views on this point coincided with those of Argentina's foreign minister, Jorge Taiana, who also condemned terrorist organizations like Hezbollah, which the Argentinian Supreme Court held responsible for the attack on the Argentine Jewish Mutual Association on July 18, 1994. Lieberman and Taiana also discussed the preparations for Israeli President Shimon Peres's visit to Argentina in November.

There was also time for business and, according to La Nación, when Lieberman met with Buenos Aires Governor Daniel Scioli, he announced that Israel would be investing US$120 million to build a water treatment plant in La Plata, 37 miles from Buenos Aires.

Source: http://infosurhoy.com

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