{
  "id": 5060875,
  "title": "'Israel needs its supporters to be here': Paraguay’s ambassador seeks lasting ties",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/02/israel-needs-its-supporters-to-be-here-paraguays-ambassador-seeks",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-02T10:02:39.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Jerusalem Post",
    "slug": "jerusalem-post",
    "url": "https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-907319"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Paraguayan Ambassador Alejandro Rubin Cymerman emphasized the importance of Israeli supporters within Paraguay, sharing WhatsApp videos showing the country's flag alongside beef in local markets. Rubin arrived in Israel in January 2024, tasked with strengthening commercial and institutional ties amid the war. He highlighted a significant increase in Paraguayan beef exports to Israel, reaching $220 million in 2025, up from $88 million in 2023. These figures, he claimed, were largely due to the private sector's efforts to promote Paraguay's beef. Rubin noted that many Israelis were initially unaware of Paraguay's existence, with some even questioning its location. He credited President Santiago Peña's support and the embassy's relocation to Jerusalem for raising Paraguay's profile. Israel, along with the United States and Taiwan, is one of the three pillars of Peña's foreign policy. Paraguay's embassy policy has shifted with each presidency, previously moving between Tel Aviv and Asunción before settling in Jerusalem in 2018. Despite political transitions, the embassy has remained open throughout. Rubin stressed the need to establish robust ties beneath Paraguay's shift to Jerusalem, benefiting both nations. The two countries have signed five memorandums of understanding, covering areas like water, innovation, defense, and technology. While water cooperation is the most advanced, the implementation of other agreements has been uneven. Israel's water management expertise could prove valuable to Paraguay, given its abundant but poorly managed water resources. Both nations have also explored educational cooperation, though measuring progress in this area is more challenging. Nonetheless, Rubin highlighted ongoing intelligence and security cooperation, even without formal memorandums, as active despite wartime challenges.",
  "summary": "Alejandro Rubin points to growing beef exports and water cooperation, while acknowledging delays in implementing other agreements.",
  "key_points": [
    "Paraguayan Ambassador Alejandro Rubin Cymerman seeks lasting ties with Israel.",
    "Beef exports to Israel increased from $88 million in 2023 to $220 million in 2025.",
    "Israel, US, and Taiwan are Paraguay's foreign policy pillars under President Santiago Peña."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}