The delegation’s visit to Israel is part of the Embassy of Guatemala’s initiative to sign on twin cities with mayors in Israel
By ILANIT CHERNICKKKL-JNF Vice Chairman Hernán Felman with Ambassador Búcaro at unveiling of the new playground(photo credit: Courtesy)
A Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF) playground at Emek Refaim Park in Jerusalem has been officially adopted by Guatemala.The name of the playground, Jardín Guatemala, was unveiled on Monday during a ceremony, which was attended by the Ambassadors from Guatemala, Colombia, Chile, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic and Honduras.A delegation of 30 mayors and officials from Guatemala also joined in marking the adoption of a KKL-JNF-established a playground in Jerusalem with the Embassy of Guatemala, the Jerusalem Development Authority, and KKL-JNF, as a symbol of Guatemala’s eternal friendship and unwavering solidarity with the State of Israel.Guatemalan Ambassador to Israel, Mario Búcaro, said that, “it is important to the Guatemalan people to show their commitment through this act of support and unyielding solidarity, in Jerusalem the eternal capital of Israel.“Here in this park, children from Guatemala will be able to come and play with children of Israel for generations to come,” he said.During the unveiling ceremony, KKL-JNF vice chairman Hernán Felman said the newly unveiled “plaque symbolizes the strong and lasting friendship between our two countries.“This special relationship with Guatemala goes back to before the establishment of the State of Israel, when Guatemala was the first country from Latin America to vote in the UN for the establishment of a Jewish state in Israel,” he explained.“[It] even worked to recruit other Latin American countries to support the move. This incredible support continues with Guatemala’s transfer of its Embassy to Jerusalem, which has and always will be the capital of Israel,” Felman added.The delegation’s visit to Israel is part of the Embassy of Guatemala’s initiative to sign on twin cities with mayors in Israel. The visit, KKL-JNF said, signals potential future collaborations between the organization and relevant local bodies in Guatemala in the fields of water and agriculture.Guatemala is one of the countries that suffers from the Central American Dry Corridor (CADC), which is known for its arid conditions which creates agricultural challenges for the rural population.
KKL-JNF added that it “hopes to provide Guatemalan local officials with experience and know-how through joint cooperation, in which the organization can impart its expertise in water technology and agriculture in dry regions.”
