In an exclusive interview with Aurora, Ecuador's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility, Gabriela Sommerfeld, reviews her official visit to Israel, the cooperation initiatives between the two countries, and her message as the highest diplomatic representative of a country allied to Israel.
Between September 4 and 6, Ecuador's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility, Gabriela Sommerfeld, paid an official visit to Israel. During the visit, the minister was able to meet with her counterpart, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz, and make progress on various agreements and cooperation projects with Israel.
Particularly important was the progress in finalizing the agreement between Jerusalem and Quito for the arrival of Ecuadorian workers to Israel, for which he held a meeting with the Israeli Minister of Labor, Yoav Ben-Tzur.
He also placed special emphasis on implementing the decision announced by Ecuador a couple of years ago, during the period of former President Lasso, to open an innovation office next to the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Sommerfeld, who became one of the few Latin American government leaders to have visited Israel during the war, also visited some of the places affected by the 7/10 massacre and after her visit to Kibbutz Nir Oz she said: “It is a sad story that marks the history of Israel and that gives meaning to the defense that Israel is currently carrying out to protect its civilians. It is a matter of living or dying.”
The official visit was accompanied by the Israeli ambassador to Ecuador, Tzach Sarid, as well as officials from the Israeli Foreign Ministry, including Mattanya Cohen, director of the Latin America and Caribbean office, and Sharon Kabalo, director for South America.
FULL INTERVIEW:
Why? It is important for the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ecuador to come to Israel, especially at this time?
GS: This visit is very important for Ecuador. First, because Israel has historically been a friendly country and is going through difficult times just like Ecuador. We have many things in common and we also have ways of cooperating for the benefit of both parties. It is about coming to visit a friendly country, precisely to seek these mechanisms of integration and cooperation for both parties.
What issues were discussed on the agenda of cooperation between Israel and Ecuador during this visit?
GS: Ecuador and Israel had an agreement signed at the beginning of the year to establish a circular migration mechanism, and now what was missing was an addendum to make this agreement viable. One of the objectives was to come, finish negotiating and put it into effect with the exchange of verbal notes of this agreement, which is taking place within the framework of this visit.
On the other hand, visiting the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, if you remember, during the previous trip that Ecuador made to Israel two years ago (in reference to the trip of former President Lasso to Israel), an innovation and trade office was inaugurated. It is also giving viability to this project and not leaving it only as a protocolary act.
This is why we have sought a mechanism with the Hebrew University to see how, through them, this project can be implemented in a much more efficient way, for the benefit of both parties.
Thirdly, we must look at issues of cooperation in terms of strengthening security capabilities and in terms of cooperation between the two governments. That is also a check, there have been very good meetings.
We took advantage of the visit to present projects in the areas of security, agriculture, energy, transmission and power generation, and we have provided extensive information so that these projects can also be seen to be attractive to the parties or to any private company and that they can land in Ecuador.
It was also raised and accepted by the other party that it would be good to explore the possibility of signing a trade agreement between Ecuador and Israel, something that would be a new project for both parties and that would begin to be explored.
What could be a free trade agreement?
GS: That's the idea.
We also visited a water desalination plant. You have a large border with the sea, as do we, and the idea is to take advantage of that water. So we are going to visit one of your large water projects to bring the idea to Ecuador and see the projection of the integration of this technology.
Returning to the topic of the agreement with the Hebrew University, the idea is to make the opening of an innovation office in Jerusalem, as announced by President Lasso, viable through cooperation with the Hebrew University.
GS: Yes, that project has been on hold for two years. The idea is to seek viability and meet the commitments made by Ecuador, in cooperation with the Hebrew University.
In addition to all the cooperation issues you discussed, this visit is marked by everything that is happening in Israel, here on the ground. I know that you were also in the south, in Kibbutz Nir Oz, where you were able to learn a little about what happened here on October 7.
I would like if you could share with me what you saw on these issues in Israel, and what you think is important for the world and people in Ecuador know about these issues.
GS: The Israeli government was very generous at the time by including in its planned agenda for Ecuador a visit to a kibbutz in the south, on the border with Gaza. The scene is very sad, the kibbutz is completely abandoned and you can see a lot of violence, regardless of age, condition of the people, whether they are elderly, whether they have some limitation, whether they are babies, whether they are children, whether they are women, whether they are men.
The aggression with which the actions were taken is palpable and felt not only in the air, but also physically visible in the homes.
It is a sad story that marks the history of Israel and gives meaning to the defense of Israel, which is protecting its civilians.
It's live or die.
Do you think it is important for the region's leaders to come here to learn about this as well?
GS: It is important, I always believe in listening to the parties, it is important that the voice and the history and the evidence speak for themselves. It will always be important that sister countries that share the same values come, listen, show solidarity and through that strengthen the historical relations of the countries.
One of the central points that really reflects the friendship between the countries in general, is also the way they vote in the United Nations. We know that historically, unfortunately for Israel, Ecuador often voted in favor of resolutions that They were considered anti-Israeli or did not adapt to the Israeli position.
A big question that we often ask ourselves with our allies is whether the friendship that we see at the political level, at the level of cooperation, will also be reflected, or is already reflected, in the votes of the United Nations and especially the UN Security Council, of which Ecuador is also a member today.
GS: Since President Noboa has been in government, he has been very clear in defending the principles that we also defend internally in Ecuador. Because in Ecuador we also have an internal war.
That is “no” and a total rejection of any act of terrorism, in this case it has a name and surname, which is Hamas, because of what happened in the south on the border with Gaza.
And we have always asked that within the documents, the statements and the declarations of the Security Council include the rejection of any act of terrorism against the civilian population, Hamas, and also the release of hostages. These are two issues that Ecuador, as a non-permanent member of the Security Council, has always requested to be included in the documents when dealing with an issue regarding Israel.
Minister, what do you think other democratic countries in the world like Ecuador, other countries in the region and we could say in the West in general, can do today or should do today to help Israel in its fight against terrorism, in its fight against Hamas, in this case we could say against the entire “Axis of Evil”"Iranian, both in this region and sometimes its tentacles that reach outside this region?
GS: I believe that the objective that countries in general seek through the Security Council, through the United Nations, is peace and security in the world. I believe that in seeking to achieve these principles, the important thing is cooperation. There are many ways to cooperate to achieve peace and security in the world.
So as long as each country, in its own way and according to its capabilities, contributes its grain of sand in the search for the achievement of these objectives, that is what corresponds to each one.
And in that sense, Minister, one of the great discontents that there is here in Israel in recent months, certainly after October 7, is also the way in which we feel that many times other democratic countries in the world, even international organizations, have acted, in betrayal of democratic values.
For example, the silence of women's rights organizations in the face of Hamas's rape and sexual abuse of Israeli women. This for us It is really a moral hypocrisy, where the things that we consider to be a central part of Western values, other Western countries with the same values as us, who should be standing up for this, have remained silent or worse, have even come out and condemned Israel.
I ask you if this is something that you also feel in Ecuador, if it is something that you believe that as a democratic Western country like those in Ecuador, you also have to be part of this fight for these values?
GS: Of course, I always say: as long as there is one voice – there is strength. As long as there are many voices – there is more strength. And that is what it is all about.
If it has not been heard to this day – yes, the rights of many women have been violated, older women, elderly women, girls, babies have been violated. That has to be heard and that echo has to resonate until justice is done.
What cannot happen is that there are no voices calling for this help. And the most important voice is that of Israel. You have to continue raising your voice until you are heard and of course with the commitment of friendly countries that ask that the right thing be done: seeking justice for the victims.
And finally, give you the space, minister, to what you consider it important to highlight or comment, both for Israelis and for Jewish communities in the Spanish-speaking world.
GS: This visit has been very important. There are things that unite both countries, especially in these times, similar problems, not the same ones, and I believe that cooperation through good practices, through the transfer of knowledge, will help both countries.
It has been a pleasure for us to be so well received and welcomed these days, and to see that our relationships have been strengthened after these few days here in Israel.
I am pleased to see the population so optimistic, a normal life within the abnormal circumstances, but life goes on and if there is one thing the people of Israel know how to show the world, it is their capacity for resilience, to get back up and keep walking and keep building.
Thank you very much.