After the Diplomatic Incident and the Following Settlement of the Dispute: KKL-JNF Paid its Respects to the Chilean Leader Bernardo O'Higgins

KKL-JNF has commemorated the birthday of the Chilean leader and liberator Bernardo O'Higgins in a recreation area named after him at the Eshtaol Forest. The ceremony was held after an unpleasant diplomatic incident that took place last month, but was quickly resolved.

The ceremony was attended by the members of the Chilean Embassy staff, a representative of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, representative of the O'Higgins Israel-Chile Cultural Connections Institute and the military attaches of several south-American embassies.

The diplomatic incident, which took place last month, started when the Chilean President ordered the foreign minister not to accept the charter from the Israeli ambassador. The incident has briefly soured the relations with the Latin country, but it quickly issued a correction, and the relations went back to normal.

On Thursday, October 20, KKL-JNF honored the memory of the Chilean leader Bernardo O'Higgins in Eshtaol in a ceremony commemorating O'Higgins' birthday.

Mr. Hernán Felman, vice chairman KKL-JNF: "In KKL-JNF we strongly identify with O'Higgins' character and his actions, especially his vision of providing each nation with freedom and independence, and his willingness to contribute himself and do whatever needed to achieve this goal. We have been celebrating this day for 30 years at the O'Higgins memorial, and hope that this collaboration between Israel and Chile will last forever, as a true friendship which lasted for decades, regardless of politics."