Why some Latin American countries are rushing to open Jerusalem embassies, too

[NCTraveler]

The United States wasn't the only country to open an embassy in Jerusalem this week. Just two days after Washington moved its embassy there from Tel Aviv — and more than 60 people were killed by Israeli forces during violent protests in Gaza — Guatemala did the same.

It's not the only Latin American country to announce plans to move its embassy to Jerusalem: Paraguay said earlier this month that it would do so by the end of May, and Honduras's legislature backed a move in a vote last month.

Paraguay, Honduras and Guatemala all have large evangelical Christian populations and long-standing ties to Israel. But it's likely that their decisions are intended to get the attention of — and help from — the United States.

“The embassy move is really about trying to curry favor with the U.S.,” said Eric Olson, the deputy director of the Wilson Center’s Latin American Program, referring to all three countries. “It’s an opportunity for them to make their cases on foreign assistance and other issues.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2018/05/16/why-some-latin-american-countries-are-rushing-to-open-jerusalem-embassies-too/?utm_term=.03f992ff870c