Chile excludes Israeli firms from Latin America's top aerospace fair
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The Chilean government decides to exclude Israeli companies from the 2024 version of the International Air and Space Fair.
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Demonstrators protest against the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip and in support of the Palestinian people outside the Israeli Embassy in Santiago, Chile, Monday, March 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix)
Chile announced Tuesday it will exclude Israeli firms from Latin America's biggest aerospace fair, to be held in Santiago in April.
"By decision of the Government of Chile, the 2024 version of the International Air and Space Fair (FIDAE), to be held between 9 and 14 April, will not have the participation of Israeli companies," a defense ministry statement confirmed.
It did not give a reason, but Chile, which has the largest Palestinian population outside the Arab world, recalled its ambassador to "Israel" in late October to protest the Israeli occupation forces' "unacceptable violations of international humanitarian law" in Gaza.
"Chile strongly condemns and observes with great concern... these military operations," the Chilean Foreign Ministry said at the time, adding that the Israeli war on Gaza amounted to "collective punishment" of the Strip's civilian population.
Mexico and Chile in January joined calls for an investigation by the International Criminal Court (ICC) into possible war crimes committed in the war.
"We cannot say we are surprised taking into account the (Chilean) government's doctrine towards Israel," the Israeli occupation entity's ambassador in Chile Gil Artzyeli told AFP in response to the announcement.
