Why Does Nayib Bukele Support Israel?

President Bukele of El Salvador has attracted attention around the world for his vocal support of Israel despite his own ancestry as Palestinian himself. There has been much interest and reasonable debate among scholars and popular media in respect to Bukele’s support of Israel, especially against the backdrop of El Salvador's special geopolitical history and Bukele's version of foreign relations. This article seeks to understand deep down why Bukele supports Israel, suggesting four issues that may influence President Bukele: historical, political rationale, monetary motives and personal values.

The Historical Connection Between El Salvador And Israel Plays A Large Role In Bukele’s Stance

El Salvador and Israel share a long history of proximity especially during various levels of conflict. In particular, during the Civil War in El Salvador Israel comprised one of the largest sources of weapons to the Salvadoran state. Between 1975-79, Israel provided nearly 83% of Salvador's military assistance. This assistance continued throughout the Salvadoran conflict, establishing a relationship based on shared security and political bases for years into the future. Furthermore, El Salvador was one of the last countries to move its embassy from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv in 2006, and is a country that carries out legitimate diplomacy with both Palestine and Israel. This demonstrated to the world that even in the context of El Salvador having links with both, that it has a permanent special historic tie with Israel.

Bukele Aligns With Global Powers By Supporting Israel Publicly And Strategically

Bukele's support for Israel is also part of the ongoing effort to strengthen relations with the new world countries, but especially with the United States. The U.S, a long-standing ally of Israel and a part of a slim group of countries that can be considered Israel's friends, Bukele displays his support as a way to also strengthen relations with the U.S. The U.S is El Salvador's largest trading partner and by far the largest population of Salvadorans are located there, as well. In Latin America countries have either leaned pro-Israel or pro-Palestine creating a division. Countries like Colombia, Brazil, and Venezuela have all pivoted towards Palestine, while Bukele's El Salvador along with a handful of other countries like Argentina are pro-Israel. This support is a significant commitment, politically committed, to keep their avenues of political options open and to maintain their relationships with foreign countries.

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Bukele Has Made Strong Statements On The Middle East Conflict That Reflect His Views

In 2023, Bukele commented on the increased conflict between Israel and Hamas on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). He stated that he did not see Hamas as representing the Palestine people and even said it was a good thing to eliminate Hamas, placing his opinion in conflict with what much people might expect based on his Palestinian history, but instead in favor of Israel’s security interests. By making that distinction, Bukele tries to distinguish his heritage from politics. His comments suggest that he is viewing the conflict in terms of immediate security policy, rather than identity or emotion.

Economic Cooperation Between El Salvador And Israel Shows Growing Potential

Trade with Israel is not significant, yet it occurs. According to OEC 2023 figures, El Salvador $1.32 million in goods in 2021, down from $2.41 million in 2018. Although the number was small, it shows that there are agreements between the two countries for health care, defense, and agriculture in which Bukele is expressing his needs to further economic relations. With Israel's advanced technology, Bukele is likely to see that relationship as an opportunity to advance Elsavador's growth in health care technology, particularly in cybersecurity. 

Bukele’s Leadership Style Prioritizes Independence From Ethnic Influence

Although the Palestinian population is large in El Salvador, Bukele has shown that he does not let ethnic loyalty affect his foreign affairs. Bukele uses pragmatism, nationalism, and messaging to lead. By siding with Israel, he is emphasizing a commitment to sovereign choice rather than cultural affinity. He is thus able to think more about what he believes is good for El Salvador's future rather than what may be loyal to his ancestry.

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Business Address: Chicago, IL