INoticias.CL | «Grave and Dangerous»: Jofré Warns of Ties Between Zionism, Business, and Kast’s Government in Foreign Policy

Just days after José Antonio Kast assumed office, significant concerns are already being raised regarding the shift in Chile’s foreign policy. International journalist and analyst Pablo Jofré Leal sounded the alarm on El Ciudadano’s «Sentido Común» program, describing the emergence of a «network» of relationships among Zionist figures, local business leaders, and the executive government as «grave and dangerous.»

He indicated that this network appears to be steering national diplomacy towards automatic alignment with the United States and Israel, thereby hindering any possibility for a critical stance on international controversies, such as the genocide in Gaza.

Jofré’s warning, shared on the new political analysis program from El Ciudadano—which is hosted by its director, Javier Pineda, along with journalists Axel Indey and Catalina Lufin, president of the Communist Youth—directly targets recent diplomatic appointments and their connections to economic power circles.

The journalist framed what he believes constitutes a perilous turn for Chile’s sovereignty and diplomatic tradition, sketching a map of influences that operate in the shadows of the state.

«It is grave, it is dangerous, it is absurd, it is an absolute sham,» Jofré asserted during his intervention.

According to the analyst, the right-wing president’s orientation is not merely a simple update of priorities, but rather a demonstration of subordination to the policies and interests of former U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration concerning the Zionist regime.

«It confines our foreign policy to lines that are absolutely centered on enhancing relations with the United States and the Israeli regime. It’s that clear and evident,» he stated.

The Ambassador in the U.S.: Business, Land, and Media

The primary focus of Jofré’s warning centers on Andrés Ergas Heymann, appointed by Kast as the ambassador of Chile to the United States, a considered strategic position for the new administration. Ergas’s profile does not align with that of a career diplomat but rather suggests a businessman with extensive connections.

Jofré referred to a network of interests that, in his view, compromise Ergas’s impartiality in office. «Additionally, you appoint Chile’s ambassador to the U.S., Andrés Ergas Heymann from Movicenter, with investments in Banco de Chile, a character whose family owns over 500 square kilometers of land in southern Chile, who are also seizing control of media outlets in the country,» the journalist detailed.

The mention of Ergas’s connections to the media is not insignificant. Jofré recalled that the digital outlet The Clinic «is owned by Andrés Ergas’s brother (Jorge Ergas Heymann).»

This media connection, combined with his role at Banco de Chile—where Ergas Heymann recently resigned from the board to assume his new diplomatic duties—forms, according to the analyst, a profile that blurs the lines between public interest and private business.

Jofré Alerts on Business-Zionist Network at La Moneda

Alert signals extend beyond Ergas, as Jofré linked various figures within the new government, suggesting the existence of an organic network.

«As you observe that they have media relationships with the current chancellor, CEO of Quiñenco, a close collaborator of Luksic, Canal 13 (…), a very close relationship is woven between Zionism and Chilean business,» he noted, referring to Foreign Minister Francisco Pérez Mackenna, who moved from Luksic’s group where he had been general manager for 28 years to join Kast’s cabinet.

The journalist’s analysis also included the Undersecretariat of International Economic Relations (SUBREI), a position of vital importance for the government’s trade agenda. Regarding the appointed Paula Estévez Weinstein, Jofré provided insights into her family background to contextualize her political viewpoint.

«She is also a character linked to the political sphere through being the daughter of Jaime Estévez and former Minister of National Assets, Mrs. Weinstein [Jacqueline Marta Weinstein Levy], who is connected to the Zionist Jewish community in Chile,» he stated.

The backgrounds of the undersecretary’s parents confirm such connections. Jaime Estévez served as the president of the Chamber of Deputies (1995-1996), Minister of Public Works, Transport, and Communications in Ricardo Lagos’s government (2005-2006), and as president of BancoEstado (2000-2005), during which he oversaw a controversial loan to Quiñenco for $138 million, enabling it to acquire 51% of Banco de Chile.

Meanwhile, Jacqueline Weinstein Levy, a commercial engineer and member of PPD, served as Minister of National Assets under Michelle Bachelet. Of Jewish descent, Weinstein Levy is known for her affiliation with community organizations; in 2010, while minister, she participated in a Holocaust memorial ceremony and announced the allocation of public land for a monument in its honor.

For Jofré, this web of personal and professional relationships is no coincidence but rather illustrates a «matrix» of thought and action that will ultimately define the country’s foreign policy.

Consequences of a «Network» that Stifles Critique

The pinnacle of Jofré’s warning focuses on the implications of this network for national interests. He suggested that aligning foreign policy with the interests of this group and the Israeli government’s agenda would diminish Chile’s capacity for autonomous and critical voice on the international stage, particularly concerning human rights issues.

«You are weaving a network of relations with Zionism that provides financial advantages, which gives you support from the United States,» Jofré explained, acknowledging the potential tactical benefits of such alignment. However, he views the cost as prohibitive: «At the same time, it curtails the possibility of having perspectives that denounce Zionism, genocide, and the military elements associated with a corrupt regime (like Israel) with Chile.»

Kast’s Government Shift Towards Israel

The relevance of these points grows particularly acute, considering that during Gabriel Boric’s administration, Chile adopted a critical stance towards the Israeli offensive in Gaza.

Just days after he took office, José Antonio Kast indicated subtle changes in Chile’s global interactions. Among the measures taken by the right-wing leader was signing a bilateral agreement with the United States to establish consultation mechanisms regarding rare earth minerals.

On security issues, he announced a militarization plan for the borders and enhanced migration control, closely mirroring U.S. President Donald Trump’s style. Even before taking office, he traveled to the U.S. to attend a summit organized by the Republican magnate, «Shields of America,» which gathered Latin American leaders aligned with the occupant of the White House.

Even before his inauguration, he was involved in a controversy with the previous administration, regarding the fiber optic cable project with Hong Kong.

Additionally, he appointed the Jewish lawyer with Zionist links, Gabriel Zaliasnik Schilkrut.

Moreover, the Palestinian Community of Chile expressed its «utmost alert» regarding media reports indicating that Kast’s administration might be considering reversing the exclusion of Israeli companies from the International Air and Space Fair (FIDAE) 2026.

In a statement, the Palestinian community in Chile described this possibility as a «concerning setback» with regards to the ethical and legal standards Chile has maintained concerning conflicts involving serious violations of international law.

The group also expressed its «deep concern» over Foreign Minister Francisco Pérez Mackenna’s comments, who in an interview with El Mercurio suggested that the new Republican administration aims to strengthen relations «in every respect» with Israel, a country currently accused of committing genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity against the Palestinian population, with substantial evidence presented to international bodies.

«If what the chancellor proposed is realized, Chile would not only be encouraging the continuance of war crimes and crimes against humanity, but would also distance itself from a historical tradition of foreign policy based on unwavering respect for international law,» they stated in another release.

These warnings, together with Pablo Jofré’s analysis on «Sentido Común» at El Ciudadano, ultimately suggest a scenario where foreign policy under José Antonio Kast’s vision ceases to serve as a tool for the state to project its sovereign interests and becomes a reflection of the private interests of an elite with strong international connections.