El Ciudadano
Chilean lawmakers have raised concerns that the Israeli ambassador in Chile, Peleg Lewi, has overstepped his diplomatic role, calling on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to take strong action and «defend the sovereignty of our country».
In a public statement, the Chilean-Palestinian Friendship Committee in the Chamber of Deputies, led by parliamentarian Omar Sabat, expressed alarm at Lewi’s repeated comments influencing the political, social, and institutional matters in Chile.
The most recent incident involved the Israeli diplomat posting a message on the social media platform X, where he voiced his «concern» regarding the use of «funds from all our neighbors» to promote divisive political narratives, hate speech, and false claims, in reference to the Municipality of Viña del Mar, which is set to host the exhibition by Palestinian photojournalist Belal Khaled titled «Anatomy of a Genocide».
The committee reminded that previously, the Israeli ambassador labeled the Palestinian Community of Chile as a «radical organization» and noted that this pattern of comments reflects a practice that exceeds legitimate expression from a state and attempts to position a foreign mission as a supervisory entity over Chilean institutions and organizations.
In response to such statements, the lawmakers reiterated their full support for the Palestinian Community of Chile, which has been a victim of these derogatory remarks, and emphasized its deep roots in the country, highlighting its contributions to Chile’s social, cultural, economic, and democratic life, thus stating that it «deserves recognition and respect, not stigmatization».
The legislators asserted that diplomacy should involve dialogue between states, not oversight of the host country’s decisions. They referenced Article 41 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which mandates that «diplomatic agents must refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of the receiving state», indicating that this duty also encompasses their public interactions with authorities and civil society.
«Chile freely determines its debates, policies, and institutional activities. No embassy is authorized to approve, censor, or judge the actions of municipalities, authorities, or organizations operating in accordance with the law,» the committee asserted.
In light of the recurring incidents, they urged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to act decisively, protect the country’s sovereignty, and communicate through appropriate diplomatic channels that no foreign representation is allowed to exceed the boundaries set by international law or interfere in matters that should be resolved by Chile and its institutions».
Criticism from the Chamber was echoed by members of the Chilean-Palestinian Friendship Group in the Senate, who stated that Ambassador Peleg Lewi’s comments exceed the bounds of diplomatic representation, «disregarding our institutionality and constituting a disrespect to national sovereignty».
«He publicly questions the Municipality of Viña del Mar for an activity carried out in the exercise of its institutional autonomy», they stated in a public declaration signed by the group’s president, Senator Sergio Gahona, and vice president, Senator Diego Ibáñez.
Recalling that Chile is a sovereign state and that its authorities and institutions make decisions in accordance with national legal frameworks, answering to citizens and competent bodies rather than to representatives of foreign governments, they also urged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs «to act with the necessary firmness and adopt appropriate diplomatic measures» regarding the repeated conduct of Israel’s diplomatic representative in our country.
«The sovereignty of Chile, the autonomy of its institutions, and the dignity of the Palestinian community must be respected,» they concluded.
Broad Rejection of Israeli Ambassador’s Interference
There is a broad rejection of Ambassador Lewi’s meddling statements and support for the Palestinian Community in Chile among parliamentarians from both the left and the right.
The Chilean-Palestinian Friendship Committee in the Chamber of Deputies comprises 73 legislators from various political factions and aims to strengthen historical ties between Chile and Palestine while promoting respect for international law.
Among the left and center-left legislators are Priscilla Castillo, Héctor Barría, Patricio Pinilla, and Cristián Mella (Christian Democracy), as well as independent FREVS member René Alinco. Also included are communists Nathalie Castillo, Lorena Pizarro, Daniela Serrano, Marcos Barraza, Boris Barrera, Luis Cuello, and Sofía González, along with independents from the PC caucus Gustavo Gatica, Bernardo Salinas, and Marisela Santibañez, and Deputy Ana María Gazmuri from Acción Humanista.
Other participants include deputies from the Frente Amplio: Gael Yeomans, Lorena Fries, Emilia Schneider, Constanza Schonhaut, Carolina Tello, Consuelo Veloso, Tatiana Urrutia, Coca Ericka Ñanco, Ignacio Achurra, Félix Bugueño, Jorge Brito, Jaime Bassa, and Matías Fernández, along with independents Valentina Cáceres and Roberto Celedón, and socialists Andrea Macías, Emilia Nuyado, Francisco Crisóstomo, Marcos Ilabaca, José Antonio Rivas, Nelson Venegas, and Juan Santana, as well as independent Carolina Cucumides and Luis Malla from the Liberal Party. In addition, members of the PPD Andrea Parra and Carlos Cuadrado join, along with independents from the PPD group Jaime Araya, Cristian Tapia, Héctor Ulloa, and Carlos Carvajal.
The Chilean-Palestinian Friendship Group in the Senate also consists of 28 legislators from different parties and political sectors, including Sergio Gahona (UDI), Diego Ibáñez (FA), Alejandro Kusanovic (IND), Alejandra Sepúlveda (IND), Alfonso de Urresti (PS), Andrea Balladares (RN), Andrés Longton (RN), Beatriz Sánchez (FA), Camila Flores (RN), Claudia Pascual (PC), Daniel Núñez (PC), Daniella Cicardini (PS), Danisa Astudillo (PS), Esteban Velásquez (FRVS), Fabiola Campillay (IND), Fidel Espinoza (PS), Gastón Saavedra (PS), Iván Flores García (DC), Iván Moreira (UDI), and Javier Macaya (UDI).
They are joined by Karim Bianchi (IND), Karol Cariola (PC), Manuel José Ossandón (RN), Matías Walker (DEM), Paulina Vodanovic (PS), Ricardo Celis (PPD), Sebastián Keitel (EVO), and Vlado Mirosevic (PL).
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