A Foreign Ministry infographic displaying a phone call between Foreign Minister Gideon Sa
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar congratulated Bolivia’s president-elect Rodrigo Paz, saying Israel aims to open a “new chapter” in bilateral relations after two decades of strained ties.
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar called Bolivian President-elect Rodrigo Paz on Monday, congratulating him on his election victory, and stating that Israel will send a representative to Paz’s inauguration ceremony.
Sa’ar noted in a post on X/Twitter that “Bolivia has a long history of friendship with Israel and the Jewish people.”
Israel looks forward to “opening a new chapter in our bilateral relations and advancing cooperation in a wide range of fields for the benefit of both nations,” Sa’ar added.
Sa’ar said that Israel is interested in turning a new page and fully renewing diplomatic relations between the countries. Paz said that he intends to lead Bolivia to reopen to the world and renew relations with Israel.
“Now, after two decades of bad relations, it is time to put good relations back on track, Sa’ar said.
“We extend our warm wishes to the Bolivian people for their democratic process and their choice for renewal,” he stated.
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar speaking in Jerusalem, September 15, 2025. (credit: DEBBIE HILL/Pool via REUTERS)
When discussing the content of the phone call in a summary post on X, Sa’ar wrote that they “recalled in our conversation the history of relations between Israel and the Jewish people with Bolivia. After two decades of strained ties, the time has come to put our good relations back on track.”
“At the center of our conversation was the mutual interest in opening a new chapter and renewing diplomatic relations between our countries,” he added.
How did Paz win the election?
Centrist Rodrigo Paz won Bolivia’s presidential runoff on Sunday, defeating conservative rival Jorge “Tuto” Quiroga, as the country’s worst economic crisis in a generation helped propel the end of nearly two decades of leftist rule.
Paz, a senator from the Christian Democratic Party, won 54.5% of the vote, beating Quiroga’s 45.5%, according to early results from Bolivia’s electoral tribunal. But Paz’s party does not hold a majority in the country’s legislature, which will force him to forge alliances to govern effectively.
The new president takes office on November 8.
“We must open Bolivia to the world,” said Paz during his victory speech from La Paz, after Quiroga conceded defeat.
Reuters contributed to this report.