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Embajador Oren

Israeli ambassador goes on Univision

by
Stephanie Butnick
February 01, 2011

In case you missed it, Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren appeared on Univision’s Sunday morning talk show Al Punto the weekend before last. In an effort to reach out to the Latino community, Oren talked to host Jorge Ramos about Tunisia (“We hope that democracy emerges in Tunisia as we hope democracy emerges in the entire Middle East”), Iran’s nuclear threat (“They are openly saying that they want to destroy our state, so we have reason to be concerned”), and, of course, the peace process (“We need to move forward to create a durable, permanent, legitimate two-state solution, but a two-state solution that will bring genuine peace”).

The conversation turns more serious when Ramos notes that several Latin American countries—Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia and Venezuela among them—have recognized an independent Palestinian state. “Is Israeli diplomacy failing in Latin America?” he asks.

According to Embassy Spokesman Jonathan Peled, “Ambassador Oren’s interview is part and parcel of Israel’s outreach to the Hispanic community.” How does he do? Watch the whole clip (it’s in English) after the jump.

Stephanie Butnick is chief strategy officer of Tablet Magazine, co-founder of Tablet Studios, and a host of the Unorthodox podcast.