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Viewing cable 08LAPAZ2671, BOLIVIA CONDEMNS "ISRAELI CRIMINAL AGGRESSION"

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Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
08LAPAZ2671 2008-12-31 17:30 2011-08-30 01:44 CONFIDENTIAL Embassy La Paz
VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHLP #2671 3661730
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 311730Z DEC 08 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY LA PAZ
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9618
INFO RUEHAC/AMEMBASSY ASUNCION 8691
RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 6051
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 0014
RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 7236
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 4282
RUEHCP/AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN 0294
RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA 4615
RUEHMN/AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO 6044
RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 6899
RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO 1677
RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV 0284
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L LA PAZ 002671 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/30/2018 
TAGS: IS ASEC PGOV PINR PREL KTER BL
SUBJECT: BOLIVIA CONDEMNS "ISRAELI CRIMINAL AGGRESSION" 
 
Classified By: Acting EcoPol Chief Brian Quigley for reasons 
1.4 (b,d.) 
 
1. SUMMARY. (SBU) In response to the violence in the Gaza 
strip, on December 29 Bolivian Foreign Minister David 
Choquehuanca condemned Israel for its "criminal aggression." 
"We completely disapprove," Choquehuanca told press and 
announced that Bolivia had demanded that the United Nations 
(UN) intervene to stop the attacks. The condemnation 
continued December 30, as Palestinians in Bolivia protested 
in the streets against what they call a "massacre backed by 
President Bush." END SUMMARY. 
 
2. (SBU) On December 29, Bolivian Foreign Minister David 
Choquehuanca publicly condemned Israel to the press. 
Choquehuanca staunchly defended Hamas, saying that Israel was 
violating the Palestinian's international human rights to 
live in their own territory. Choquehuanca also confirmed that 
Bolivia had called on the UN to intervene to stop the 
"collective punishment on all of those living in the region, 
under the argument that it's a response to the action taken 
by a few militants." 
 
 
3. (SBU) Bolivia is a hotspot for young Israeli tourists, but 
it was Palestinians in the country that came out December 30 
to protest the attacks on Gaza. "They're killing us in our 
own territory...it's a massacre," said the groups, marching 
in the state of Santa Cruz. Representatives also criticized 
the U.S., saying that Israel acted with "impunity" because it 
was confident in the backing of President Bush. The marchers 
claimed that the past 8 years have been "harmful" for the 
Arab people, particularly Palestinians. The protesters plan 
to hold a national march on Monday January 5, to which they 
have invited "all of the Palestinians, all of the Arabs, and 
all of the Bolivians" to participate. (NOTE: Bolivia has a 
small Arab-Palestinian immigrant community dating back to the 
1940's. END NOTE.) 
 
 
4. (C) COMMENT. Bolivia's quick criticism of Israel and 
defense of Hamas could be expected. Morales' loyalty to his 
new-found ally in Iran, coupled with his disdain for the 
U.S., creates a one-sided view of the Israeli-Palestinian 
conflict. As long as Morales is convinced that the U.S. is 
aligned with Israel, he will continue to be a friendly face 
to the expanding Arab presence in Latin America. END COMMENT. 
LAMBERT