Nayib Bukele on Israel

Nayib Bukele, the President of El Salvador, has publicly adopted a strongly supportive stance toward Israel, which contrasts with his Palestinian ancestry on his father's side. This position became particularly evident following the October 7, 2023, attacks, when he stated that the best outcome for the Palestinian people would be the complete disappearance of Hamas, equating the group to domestic gang terrorists. He has maintained that those who support the Palestinian cause by siding with Hamas are making a mistake, comparing such support to Salvadorans siding with MS-13. This stance is reportedly influenced by the significant Evangelical Christian voting bloc in El Salvador, which often aligns with Christian Zionist theology that links support for Israel to divine blessing.

His commitment to Israel is further evidenced by past actions, including a state-sponsored 2018 visit to Israel as mayor, where he visited the Western Wall and Yad Vashem, and subsequently announced a multi-million dollar donation to the Jerusalem Foundation for police and military supplies. Analysts suggest Bukele prioritizes domestic and political alliances, such as those with the United States and conservative elements, over allegiance to the Palestinian cause, despite the presence of a large Salvadoran-Palestinian community. The Palestinian community in El Salvador has expressed disappointment over his silence on the wider conflict and his perceived minimization of sovereignty issues, viewing his focus as business and technology rather than addressing historic wrongs.