The President of Paraguay, Santiago Peña, arrived today (Thursday) for a special tour of the Western Wall along with an official delegation that included the president of the Paraguayan parliament, ministers, members of parliament, and family members. The visit took place as part of a solidarity and support mission to the State of Israel, highlighted by the opening of Paraguay’s embassy in Jerusalem.
“I am here today to thank God for allowing me, three years ago, to come here and pray to win the presidency and serve my country,” said the South American president emotionally. “It is a privilege for me to say thank you here and to renew my commitment to do good for Paraguay, for Israel, and for the Jewish people.”
The visit was part of a solidarity and support mission to the State of Israel, highlighted by the opening of Paraguay’s embassy in Jerusalem. The delegation was welcomed by the Rabbi of the Western Wall and Holy Sites, Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, and the CEO of the Western Wall Heritage Foundation, Mordechai (Suli) Eliav. Both praised the president for his unwavering support of Israel and explained the historical and religious significance of the Western Wall for the Jewish people.
Closing the Circle: The President of Paraguay Gives Thanks at the Western Wall for Being Elected to Office (Credit: Western Wall Heritage Foundation)
The Prayer of the President of Paraguay at the Western Wall
During his visit, the president offered a silent prayer next to the stones of the Western Wall, wrote a personal note, and placed it between the stones. He signed the Western Wall guest book and commended the efforts to preserve Jewish heritage. The visit concluded with a tour of the Western Wall Tunnels, where the president was given an in-depth explanation of the site’s history and its profound significance over the generations.
Earlier this week, the President of Paraguay received a special welcome at the Knesset after announcing the relocation of the Paraguayan embassy to Jerusalem. During the reception, President Peña stated that his country would always stand by Israel. “Especially after the horrific attacks of October 7,” he emphasized.
“This was not just an attack on Israel but on all of us. There are moments when one must take a stand. That is why, tomorrow, we will move the Paraguayan embassy to Jerusalem – the eternal capital of Israel. Without an embassy in Jerusalem, our diplomatic relations are not complete. We hope that this move will encourage other countries to follow our lead.” Peña added, “In the face of every display of antisemitism, every person in Paraguay will say – I am a Jew.”
