What Happened
Israel’s President Isaac Herzog used his visit to Panama to highlight a broader push to deepen ties between the two countries, while also linking the trip to possible cooperation on Panama’s water crisis. Herzog said Panama and Israel have long maintained a close relationship and described President José Raúl Mulino as a valued friend.
Herzog said the trip came alongside his attendance at the inauguration of Costa Rica’s president, but he also framed it as an official state visit to Panama. He pointed to Israel’s experience in water management and said Israeli companies could work with the Panamanian government and private sector to help address the country’s water problems.
Security, Gaza and Iran
Herzog also defended Israel’s military campaign against Hamas in Gaza and said Israel’s central goal is to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. He argued that Iran’s regional influence extends through armed groups such as Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis, and said that dynamic threatens security across the Middle East and beyond.
On the war in Gaza, Herzog said Israel is acting in self-defense after the October 7, 2023 attacks and insisted that the military has operated under international law. He said the war has taken place in a dense urban environment shaped by an extensive tunnel network, and he stressed the need to secure the release of hostages and dismantle Hamas’s military capacity.
Panama, Hezbollah and the 1994 bombing case
Herzog strongly backed efforts to pursue justice in the 1994 bombing of the Alas Chiricanas flight, a case attributed to Hezbollah and widely remembered in Panama for its 20 victims, including members of the local Jewish community. He said Israel is committed to bringing the perpetrators to justice and described the attack as part of a wider global terror threat.
He also pointed to the presence of Hezbollah-linked activity in Latin America as evidence that the threat is not confined to the Middle East. In his view, the case underscores the need for international pressure on Iran and its allied networks.
Broader Regional Goals
Herzog expressed hope that the Abraham Accords will continue to expand and eventually include more Arab and Muslim-majority countries. He praised the United Arab Emirates, Morocco and Bahrain for joining the normalization process and said other states may follow.
He also addressed rising antisemitism worldwide and drew a line between legitimate criticism of Israel and what he described as attacks on Jewish communities. Herzog argued that criticism is part of democratic debate, but said it should never cross into denying Israel’s right to exist or defend itself.
On the question of a two-state solution, Herzog said the idea remains part of the debate but depends on security guarantees and changing regional realities. He noted that Panama’s position on not recognizing a Palestinian state has been understood in Israel and linked any future progress to broader regional normalization.