Colombia is considering breaking relations with Israel. “We don’t support genocides” says President Gustavo Petro.
This strikes a nerve because, for decades, Israel played a central role in facilitating a genocide against the Colombian people.
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This strikes a nerve because, for decades, Israel played a central role in facilitating a genocide against the Colombian people.
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Far-right, government-linked Colombian paramilitaries are thought to have killed tens of thousands of people, and forced millions more from their homes.
The most notorious of these groups was the AUC, whose leader, Carlos Castaño, went to Israel to be trained in terror tactics
The most notorious of these groups was the AUC, whose leader, Carlos Castaño, went to Israel to be trained in terror tactics
Castaño's teacher was infamous IDF Lt. Col. turned mercenary leader Yair Klein.
Klein was later brought to Colombia to train the National Police.
Klein was later brought to Colombia to train the National Police.
All branches of the Colombian armed forces use Israeli weaponry (rifles, armored vehicles) as standard, and all have been trained by the IDF in combat techniques.
For decades, Israel honed these dissent-crushing techniques on the Palestinian population.
For decades, Israel honed these dissent-crushing techniques on the Palestinian population.
In 2021, Colombian forces used their Israeli knowledge and weaponry to attempt to suppress a nationwide uprising against far-right president Ivan Duque.
They killed at least 80 people in various massacres.
They killed at least 80 people in various massacres.
The Colombian military and paramilitary has extremely close links to the IDF, as @dancohen3000 explains here:
So normalized did Israeli mercenaries become in Colombian society that President Juan Manuel Santos took time out of his schedule to appear in an ad for Israeli military firm Global CST.
Things have changed in Colombia now. Former leftist guerilla Gustavo Petro survived far-right assassination attempts, & rode a wave of popular support into power.
Colombia was once called "the Israel of Latin America". Now, it is leading the world in rejecting Israeli genocide.
Colombia was once called "the Israel of Latin America". Now, it is leading the world in rejecting Israeli genocide.
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