Giammattei made the comment in a conversation with Prof. Eugene Kontorovich, director of the Kohelet Policy Forum, witnessed by the Post.In a talk before a small crowd, hosted by the Israel Allies Foundation, Giammattei noted that his dream is to make Israel and Guatemala even closer allies than before.Guatemala was the second country in the world to recognize the State of Israel in 1948 – only after the US – and the second country to move its embassy to Jerusalem.Giammattei said that he supports Israel out of faith: “Bless Israel and receive blessing from God,” he told the group, quoting a passage from Genesis.The president-elect said he has no plans to move the Guatemalan embassy from Jerusalem – and that he will use his role as the country’s leader to encourage other countries to move their embassies to the capital, as well.He also said that he would continue to support Israel among international organizations, such as the United Nations where, especially at this time of year, a slew of anti-Israel resolutions are raised and passed. Guatemala has historically voted against such resolutions.Cohen said that when Giammattei was elected, he visited the president-elect in his office. During the meeting, the president made a commitment to the State of Israel.“I met him two days after he was elected,” Cohen recalled. “I was the first ambassador he received. He told me that he was only going to visit three countries outside of the Americas in his first few months: Taiwan, Spain and Israel.“For him, these were the three most important countries,” Cohen continued.Cohen explained that beyond offering diplomatic support to Israel, Giammattei is in Israel to discuss his country’s free trade agreement with the Jewish state and to meet and recruit Israeli technology companies.“He wants to bring Israeli technologies – water, agriculture, education, health and security – from Israel to Guatemala,” he said.Dr. Fidel Reyes Lee, a member of the Guatemalan Congress, told the Post that he “loves and supports Israel,” and that even though it is sometimes hard to fight for pro-Israel legislation, he is committed to doing so out of his faith – like the president.Lee said that while he does not know if his country will be able to have any impact in changing the European Union court’s decision to label products as made in the settlements, he will fight to ensure that his own country never makes such a move.
The Guatemalan delegation is part of a group of 25 MPs from around the world that are in the country for three days to take part in the Israel Allies Foundation’s annual conference. Among attendees are Julio Borges, the recognized Venezuela foreign minister by Israel and the USA and the population minister of Estonia, Riina Solman.The Israel Allies Foundation works with the US Congress and parliaments around the world to mobilize faith-based support for Israel. Most of its participants are Evangelical Christians.Giammattei will be in Israel until Thursday.