Israel–Uruguay relations

File:Israel-Uruguay delegation1948.jpg

File:Rivlin receives credentials of new ambassadors, November 2017 (4187).jpg with Uruguayan ambassador to Israel, November 2017]]

On 29 November 1947, Uruguay voted in favor for the Partition of Palestine which led to the creation of the State of Israel. On May 19, 1948, Uruguay recognized Israel, and the two countries established diplomatic relations.{{cite web |title=Israel's Diplomatic Missions Abroad: Status of relations |url=http://mfa.gov.il/MFA/AboutTheMinistry/Pages/Israel-s%20Diplomatic%20Missions%20Abroad.aspx |accessdate=March 3, 2021 |website=mfa.gov.il}} The Israeli embassy in Montevideo was the fourth Israeli embassy to be established worldwide.{{Cite web |date=2023-06-28 |title=Israel y Uruguay celebraron 75 años de relaciones diplomáticas |url=https://www.elpais.com.uy/mundo/israel-y-uruguay-celebraron-75-anos-de-relaciones-diplomaticas |access-date=2025-05-10 |website=EL PAIS |language=es-UY}}

In 1948, future Israeli President Yitzhak Navon headed a diplomatic delegation to Uruguay. In May 1986, Uruguayan President Julio Maria Sanguinetti paid an official visit to Israel, becoming the first Uruguayan head of state to do so.{{cite web|url=http://mfa.gov.il/MFA/ForeignPolicy/MFADocuments/Yearbook7/Pages/163%20Joint%20Statement%20Israel-Uruguay-%204%20May%201986.aspx|title=Joint Statement Israel-Uruguay - 4 May 1986|website=mfa.gov.il|accessdate=March 3, 2021}} During his visit to Israel, both nations signed agreements in the fields of social security, investments and medical and veterinary care.{{Cite web |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/319207135 |title=Jerusalem Post: Social Security deal signed with Uruguay |access-date=2018-01-01 |archive-date=2018-01-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180101082451/https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/jpost/doc/319207135.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Mar%2031,%201998&author=JAY%20BUSHINSKY&pub=Jerusalem%20Post&edition=&startpage=&desc=Social%20Security%20deal%20signed%20with%20Uruguay |id={{ProQuest|319207135}} |url-status=live }} In August 2008, Uruguayan President Tabaré Vázquez paid an official visit to Israel.{{cite web|url=http://mfa.gov.il/MFA/PressRoom/2008/Pages/President%20of%20Uruguay%20visits%20Israel%20%2025-Aug-2008.aspx|title=President of Uruguay visits Israel at the head of a large delegation|website=mfa.gov.il|date=August 25, 2008|accessdate=March 3, 2021}} During his visit to the country, both nations signed an agreement to promote industrial research and development. In 2010, Israel signed a Free Trade Agreement with Mercosur (which includes Uruguay).[http://embassies.gov.il/montevideo/Relations/Pages/TLC-Mercosur-Israel.aspx TLC Mercosur-Israel (in Spanish)]

In 2016, the Israeli embassy in Montevideo transferred supplies to aid flood victims in Uruguay, where more than 13,000 people were displaced.{{cite web|url=https://www.israel21c.org/israel-sends-donations-to-flood-victims-in-paraguay-and-uruguay/|title=Israel sends donations to flood victims in Paraguay and Uruguay|work=ISRAEL21c|first=Abigail|last=Klein Leichman|date=January 17, 2016|accessdate=March 3, 2021}}

Uruguay maintained an embassy in Jerusalem from 1954 to 1980.{{cite web|url=http://jcpa.org/our-building-a-protected-jerusalem-landmark/|title=Our Building - A protected Jerusalem Landmark|website=jpca.org|accessdate=March 3, 2021}}

On 29 September 2020, Uruguay fired one of its top diplomats after UN Watch exposed the country’s vote for a UN resolution that singled out Israel alone in the world for supposedly violating women’s rights. Uruguay’s Foreign Minister Francisco Bustillo declared that his country’s UN vote against Israel was a “circumstantial error,” and removed the foreign ministry’s director-general of political affairs, Ambassador Pablo Sader, and that Uruguay’s “foreign policy will keep its historical stance to defend the rights of Israel.”{{cite web |title=Success: Top Uruguay Diplomat Fired For Anti-Israel Vote, After UN Watch Protest |url=https://unwatch.org/success-top-uruguay-diplomat-fired-for-anti-israel-vote-after-un-watch-protest/ |website=UN Watch |date=5 October 2020}}

In August 2023 it was announced that Uruguay would open a diplomatic office in Jerusalem aimed at boosting cooperation "in the field of innovation".{{Cite web |author=ToI Staff |title=Uruguay to open diplomatic office in Jerusalem, foreign minister announces |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/uruguay-to-open-diplomatic-office-in-jerusalem-foreign-minister-announces/ |access-date=2023-10-08 |website=www.timesofisrael.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Uruguay abrirá una oficina diplomática en Jerusalén |url=https://mediospublicos.uy/uruguay-abrira-una-oficina-diplomatica-en-jerusalen-para-promover-la-innovacion-con-israel/ |access-date=2023-10-08 |website=Portal Medios Públicos |language=es-UY}} The announcement prompted the UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Francesca Albanese, as well as the Embassy of Palestine in Uruguay, to request that the Uruguayan government reconsider its decision.{{Cite web |title=Palestina advierte a Uruguay tras dichos del canciller israelí sobre oficina en Jerusalén |url=https://www.montevideo.com.uy/Noticias/Palestina-advierte-a-Uruguay-tras-dichos-del-canciller-israeli-sobre-oficina-en-Jerusalen-uc862868 |access-date=2025-05-19 |website=Montevideo Portal |language=es}} The office was inaugurated in December 2024 and is overseen by the National Agency for Research and Innovation of Uruguay, which signed an agreement with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.{{Cite web |title=¿Quiénes son los asesores de la oficina de la ANII en Jerusalén, cuál es su propósito y qué aporte económico hizo Uruguay? |url=https://ladiaria.com.uy/usuarios/entrar/?article=135810 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250415033430/https://ladiaria.com.uy/politica/articulo/2025/4/quienes-son-los-asesores-de-la-oficina-de-la-anii-en-jerusalen-cual-es-su-proposito-y-que-aporte-economico-hizo-uruguay/ |archive-date=2025-04-15 |access-date=2025-05-19 |website=la diaria |language=es-UY}}

In May 2025, Uruguay summoned the Israeli ambassador to Uruguay after the Israeli Defense Forces fired warning shots upon towards diplomats during a diplomatic visit in Jenin.{{cite web|title= Canada, Uruguay summon their Israel ambassadors over West Bank IDF warning shots|url= https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/canada-uruguay-summon-their-israel-ambassadors-over-west-bank-idf-warning-shots/|website=The Times of Israel|date=21 May 2025}}

• Israel has an embassy in Montevideo.[http://embassies.gov.il/montevideo/Pages/default.aspx Embassy of Israel in Montevideo]
• Uruguay has an embassy in Tel Aviv.{{Cite web |url=http://www.mrree.gub.uy/frontend/page?1,inicio,embajadas,O,es,0, |title=Uruguayan Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Israel (in Spanish) |access-date=2018-01-01 |archive-date=2018-09-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180903071901/http://www.mrree.gub.uy/frontend/page?1,inicio,embajadas,O,es,0, |url-status=dead }}

==See also==

• Foreign relations of Israel
• Foreign relations of Uruguay
• History of the Jews in Uruguay
• Uruguayan Jews in Israel

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Category:Bilateral relations of Uruguay

Uruguay