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H. E. Jonathan Peled - Israeli Ambassador
"We are here, not only to present my credentials, but to seek ways to foster our relationship and deepen the cooperation between our two countries."

Jules Vasquez - Reporter
"How is Belize within Israel's strategic interest? We know Israel is one of the most polarizing nations on earth."

H. E. Jonathan Peled - Israeli Ambassador
"Belize is a country, where it lies- geo-strategically. We have a very close relationship with Central America, with Mexico, with the United States, and therefore Belize is part and parcel of this region and of this strategy. Because Belize is a member both of SIICA and of CARICOM and part of the Inland Central America of Isle, it plays a bridge or a role in connecting both groups- both regional and political groups- we would like to come closer to both CARICOM and to SIICA."

Jules Vasquez - Reporter
"But at the UN Belize has voted in support of Palestine."

H. E. Jonathan Peled - Israeli Ambassador
"Well, we understand sometimes that not all countries that are our friends necessarily always vote in full accordance with our interest or our desire. That's one of the items obviously which we raised in our meetings here. We would like to see Belize maintain a more favorable and balanced approach and voting pattern, vis a vis of Israel, in the United Nations and International Organizations."

Reporter
"Is that the number one thing you'd like to see a change on; the vote by Belize in United Nations in the Palestinian issue?"

H. E. Jonathan Peled - Israeli Ambassador
"Well, as I mention further we would like to see a slightly more balanced approach. Belize has a record, as you recalled it rightly mentioned, very, I would say, one sided. We would like to see a more balanced favorable approach or voting pattern of Belize vis a vis our issues. And again, that is one issue which we discussed with our counterparts here. We'll have to wait and see."

Jules Vasquez - Reporter
"Might you not see, how there could be a lack of sympathy for Israel in Belize because Israel, the United Nation has attested recently with the resolution 2344, is encroaching upon the territory of another country. Belize is a small country where our neighbor Guatemala seeks to occupy or take away half of our country."

H. E. Jonathan Peled - Israeli Ambassador
"Well, I think the two conflicts are very different. They come from different origins and they have a different outcome. But I do believe that the only way to resolve these conflicts is through direct face to face negotiations."

Jules Vasquez - Reporter
"Israel is fond of speaking of face to face negotiations but when one feels, as a smaller nation, that once neighbor's chauvinist in their ambitions, the idea of face to face negotiations is not that appealing because there could be no just or honorable outcome, a small nation feels, with a larger nation that has such ambitions. How do you view these points?"

H. E. Jonathan Peled - Israeli Ambassador
"Every conflict has its own mechanism as long as the parties to the conflict are willing to accept a commonly agreed upon mechanism that is fine. I was referring to direct negotiations, face negotiations, in the case of Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Not necessarily this mechanism has to apply one to one to the Belize Guatemala dispute."

Jules Vasquez - Reporter
"Israel has supported Guatemala militarily. Would you discuss the history that Israel has in support of Guatemala? And if that history exists, how then do you say that we come down equitably on the Belize Guatemala issue when historically, the record shows, Israel has been pro Guatemala?"

H. E. Jonathan Peled - Israeli Ambassador
"First of all we haven't stated our opinion on this issue. It is true that we have a long standing relationship with Guatemala. Guatemala is a state or a country that has been independent slightly longer than Israel and slightly longer than Belize. Traditionally they voted in favor of the establishment of the Jewish state in 1947 in the United Nations. We've had a good relationship with them. But once Belize became independent, we quickly recognized and established diplomatic relations with Belize. We don't see our relationship with one or the other the other country coming at the expense of the other."

Jules Vasquez - Reporter
"He made a direct analogy between Belize and Palestine and Guatemala and Israel. Were you aware of this? Is this something that grieves you?"

H. E. Jonathan Peled - Israeli Ambassador
"As I mentioned before I think these two disputes, these two conflicts are totally different in their nature in their origin in the way they should be resolved, so I don't accept a direct analogy between the two cases. We respect that Belize together with Guatemala is trying to resolve this issue. We have our ways of resolving ours."

Jules Vasquez - Reporter
"Do you believe though that Belize should maintain its territorial integrity of 8,867 square miles of border to border?"

H. E. Jonathan Peled - Israeli Ambassador
"We understand fully Belize's position. We were given yesterday an explanation on it and we definitely understand Belize's position and whatever the Government and people of Belize decide upon, through this mechanism which you mentioned earlier, we will support."

Jules Vasquez - Reporter
"But Israel has no formal position on the territorial integrity of Belize remaining intact?"

H. E. Jonathan Peled - Israeli Ambassador
"We obviously would like to see Belize remain intact but we believe at the end of the day that it is not for us to judge the outcome or decide for the two parties what is best for them."

Peled says he held extensive technical meetings with the Ministry of Agriculture to discuss technical cooperation.