Israeli tourists should not travel to Bolivia, the Foreign Ministry recommended on Sunday.
Bolivia cut ties with the Jewish state in October 2023 to protest the Israel-Hamas War, less than a month after the Hamas terrorist attack.
Since severing ties, Bolivia has supported South Africa’s case at the International Court of Justice, accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza.
The Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that droves of Israelis were denied entry to Bolivia, despite presenting proper credentials to obtain a visa. Among the documents required are proof of onward travel and hotel reservations. A visa can be obtained at any Bolivian embassy.
Israel does not have representation in Bolivia, with the nearest Israeli office being in Lima, Peru.
According to the Foreign Ministry, Israel’s embassy in Peru is available for assistance in case of refusal of entry, in which case a traveler may also need to wait until onward travel is available back to their point of origin.
Rabbi Tomer Rotem, the rabbi at Chabad of Quito, Ecuador was detained and denied entry last week when traveling to deliver kosher food for Bolivian Jews to savor for the holiday. Rotem told The Jerusalem Post that as a resident of Ecuador, he has a resident card that would allow free movement between the countries. He was also denied the possibility to get his visa on arrival with his Israeli passport, and had to wait for 24 hours until the next flight back.
Foreign Ministry warns travellers
The Foreign Ministry has warned travelers against highlighting their Israeli identities in dress, gear, behavior, or language and has advised travelers from traveling alone. They have also advised Israelis in Bolivia to keep up with local news in the region.
In a social media group for Israelis traveling in Bolivia and Peru last week, Facebook user Shlomit Kahan Matanah wrote she was looking for assistance for her daughter.
“Who is at the airport in Bolivia? My daughter is at the airport, they won’t let them in and took their passport and don’t want to return it to them.”
The Jerusalem Post has been unable to confirm the specifics or outcome of this post.
Despite Bolivia’s choice to sever diplomatic ties with Israel post-October 7, some Israelis traveling in the South American nation have reported feeling strong support from natives for Israel.
“Bolivia, despite the fact that they don’t have any relations with Israel and have a reputation of being anti-Israel, the Bolivian people are probably some of the most pro-Israel people I’ve met on this trip,” Adiel Cohen, an Israeli traveling in Bolivia, told the Post on Sunday.
Before arriving in Bolivia, Cohen traveled through Argentina and Chile.
“Bolivians by far are the most welcoming to Israelis. Many of them spoke Hebrew, and it’s pretty common to find Hebrew signs in Bolivia. It’s interesting to see the contrast between the government and the people,” he said. “They feel that the government does not represent them, in other aspects too, but particularly in regard to relations with Israel.”
Despite positive experiences reported by some, the Foreign Ministry urged caution among Israelis traveling.