"Heil Hitler": Israel criticized Petro for linking the Jewish state to Nazi propaganda

The tension between the government of Gustavo Petro and Israel has added a new chapter after the Colombian president linked the Jewish state to alleged tactics of political manipulation and propaganda in Latin America.

The controversy began when Petro reacted to a poster campaign directed against the Colombian leftist leader Iván Cepeda, which he described as a crime and compared to the methods used by Nazi propaganda.

However, the Colombian president went further and ended up relating the episode to Israel and the United States. Through a social media post, he claimed that those promoting such strategies had previously acted under the slogan of "Free Palestine" and would now seek to do the same with a supposed agenda of "Free Latin America."

The statement generated an immediate diplomatic reaction from Jerusalem and revived criticism against Petro for his growing hostility towards Israel since the start of the war against Hamas.

The strong response from Israel

The one who responded was Danny Danon, Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, who harshly questioned the Colombian president's statements.

"President of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, whatever is happening in your personal life, there are lines that should never be crossed," the Israeli diplomat wrote on the social media platform X.

The response reflected the Israeli government's discomfort with a new accusation deemed unfounded and especially serious due to the use of references to Nazism to attack the Jewish state.

Since the beginning of the conflict in Gaza, Israel has repeatedly denounced that some international leaders use extreme historical comparisons to discredit the country and fuel hostile narratives.

A permanent escalation against Israel

Petro's statements do not represent an isolated incident. Since the terrorist attack carried out by Hamas on October 7, 2023, the Colombian president has become one of the most aggressive critics of Israel within Latin America.

In May 2024, Colombia severed diplomatic relations with Israel after Petro accused the Israeli government of committing genocide in Gaza, an accusation categorically rejected by Jerusalem.

Subsequently, the Colombian president continued to escalate the tone of his attacks.

Among the most controversial episodes are:

• The severing of diplomatic relations with Israel.

• The repeated accusations of genocide against the Jewish state.

• Statements questioned by international Jewish organizations for reproducing anti-Semitic stereotypes.

• The institutionalization of Colombian state support for the Palestinian cause through a presidential directive.

• Calls for U.S. military personnel to disobey orders during a demonstration in New York.

• The decision to expel Israeli diplomats after intercepting a pro-Palestinian flotilla.

A new front in international conflict

What began as an internal political dispute in Colombia quickly transformed into a new international diplomatic confrontation.

Petro's decision to link a local controversy with Israel, the United States, Palestine, and references to Nazism has once again highlighted the growing radicalization of his discourse in foreign policy.

As the Colombian government deepens its alignment with the Palestinian cause, Israel maintains an increasingly critical stance towards the South American president's statements, considering that his accusations not only lack support but also contribute to legitimizing hostile narratives against the Jewish state.

The new controversy confirms that the conflict between Gustavo Petro and Israel is far from over and continues to escalate on the international diplomatic stage.