Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections to Haiti
Haiti: its tiny Jewish population, its vote for the partition of Palestine, a former Israeli honorary consul sanctioned by Canada, and Israeli rifles for the national police
Haiti has a Jewish population of about 20 and no communal organisation. It voted for the UN partition of Palestine in 1947.[1] An Israeli army field hospital worked in Port-au-Prince after the 2010 earthquake,[2] and in 2024 the Israeli company Guardian said it had contracted to supply 1,000 Galil rifles to the Haitian National Police.[3]
Jewish community and religious life
The World Jewish Congress (WJC) cites the US State Department's 2021 estimate of 20 Jews. It says Jews came from Brazil in the 17th century, from Egypt, Syria and Lebanon in the early 20th century and from Eastern Europe in the 1930s, that most of those remaining live in Port-au-Prince, and that "the Jews of Haiti have never been able to establish a communal organization".[1] The Haitian Times says that in the late 1930s and 1940s Haiti offered refuge to as many as 50,000 Jews fleeing Nazi persecution, but that only 100 to 300 were documented there during the war.[2]
How far is it Zionist? There is no communal organisation.
Chabad
- Main article: Chabad-Lubavitch movement
Powerbase does not yet have a page on Chabad in Haiti.
Israeli state and commercial ties
Diplomacy
- The Haitian Times, citing the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, says Haiti recognised "Israel" four days after its proclamation, as the 48th state to do so;[2] the Israeli foreign ministry's 2011 list dates recognition to January 1950.[4]
- The WJC says the Israeli ambassador in Panama represents "Israel" in Haiti, and that the honorary consul in Port-au-Prince, George Bigio, "flies a massive Israeli flag outside his home".[1] The 2011 Israeli list records representation by the ambassador in the Dominican Republic.[4]
- The Haitian Times says George Bigio's predecessor, Gilbert Bigio, "Haiti's only billionaire", was the Israeli consul for 25 years, and that in December 2022 Canada sanctioned him "for allegedly having ties to Haiti's gangs".[2]
- On 10 October 2023, after the outbreak of the Gaza war, the Haitian government said that "nothing in fact can justify blind and indiscriminate attacks against defenseless civilians, innocent old people, women and children, nor kidnappings" and called for de-escalation.[2]
Aid and peacekeeping
The Haitian Times says the Israel Defense Forces Medical Corps field hospital spent 20 days in Port-au-Prince after the 2010 earthquake, treating 1,111 patients; that IsrAID sent an emergency team after the 2021 earthquake; and that "Israel" sent 14 police officers and civilians to the UN peacekeeping mission, MINUSTAH, deployed in 2004. It names the Israeli-born photographer Daniel Kedar, who settled in Haiti, as having played a lead role in the Israeli response to the 2010 earthquake.[2]
Arms and police
- SIPRI records one Arava transport aircraft ordered in 1980 and delivered in 1981.[5]
- On 1 November 2024 Guardian Defense & Homeland Security said that Guardian LTD Israel had signed a contract with the Ministry of Justice and Public Security for 1,000 ACE Galil rifles for the Haitian National Police, including a week of tactical and technical training in Port-au-Prince.[3]
Trade
The Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics lists Haiti separately. In 2025 "Israel" imported goods worth $0.0 million from Haiti (2024: $0.0 million) and exported goods worth $0.1 million to it (2024: $0.0 million).[6]
Migration and aliyah
The Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics does not list Haiti separately; it is included under "other countries".[7]
Political interference
UN voting
Haiti did not vote on the General Assembly's endorsement of the New York Declaration on a two-state solution in September 2025.[8]
Jeffrey Epstein
- A week after the January 2010 earthquake Epstein asked a member of his aviation staff to find out whether a helicopter operator "is going to haiti, or knows anyone who is there or going"; the reply said the operator was "on standby to take his helicopter for extraction mission" and that only aircraft able to fly round trips without refuelling were being allowed to land.[9]
- On 24 January 2010 Epstein's staff were asked for the use of his Gulfstream for a humanitarian flight to Haiti, which the email says Epstein had approved subject to checks; Cecile de Jongh replied that the organisers were "a legitimate group" and that "JE should agree to help them with the next trip".[10]
- On 14 May 2012 Peggy Siegal asked Epstein to look over an invitation to Sean Penn's Haiti benefit on 18 May, for which she had to buy a ticket. Epstein replied: "yes, of course.. I will always help"; the ticket cost $5,000[11] and his staff arranged to wire the money.[12]
- In June 2012 Epstein's media and PR staff forwarded to him and Cecile de Jongh an offer from a US school supplier to help a new school in Haiti, prompted by an article about the Edeyo Foundation,[13] and a business plan for CEFOTAJ, a project offering free garment-industry training in south-eastern Haiti.[14]
See also
- Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections to the Dominican Republic
- Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections to Cuba
- Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections to Panama
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 World Jewish Congress, Community in Haiti worldjewishcongress.org, accessed 21 October 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Onz Chery, 7 ways Haiti is connected to Israel and Palestine The Haitian Times, 17 October 2023.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Guardian Defense & Homeland Security, Guardian – supplying Galil to the Haitian Police Force guardianspain.com, 1 November 2024 (Guardian-side).
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Diplomatic Missions Abroad: Status of relations mfa.gov.il, archived 5 August 2011 (Israeli government-side).
- ↑ Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, SIPRI Arms Transfers Database SIPRI, trade register for Israel as supplier, 1950–2025, data generated 20 October 2026.
- ↑ Central Bureau of Statistics (Israel), Foreign Trade Statistics Monthly, Table D1: Trade Countries – Imports and Exports CBS, December 2025 issue (library copy) (Israeli government-side).
- ↑ Central Bureau of Statistics (Israel), Statistical Abstract of Israel 2024, Table 2.55: Immigrants, by period of immigration, country of birth and last country of residence CBS, 2024 (Israeli government-side).
- ↑ United Nations General Assembly, Recorded vote on A/80/L.1/Rev.1: Endorsement of the New York Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, 12 September 2025 (copy hosted by Al-Quds Al-Arabi).
- ↑ Email thread between Jeffrey Epstein and a member of his aviation staff, "Haiti", 19 January 2010, EFTA00765129, US Department of Justice, Epstein Files release, Data Set 9, justice.gov, accessed 21 October 2026.
- ↑ Email thread "Fwd: Haiti flight", 24 January 2010, EFTA02431921, US Department of Justice, Epstein Files release, Data Set 11, justice.gov, accessed 21 October 2026.
- ↑ Email thread "Haiti benefit Friday, May 18", 14 May 2012, EFTA00413036, US Department of Justice, Epstein Files release, Data Set 9, justice.gov, accessed 21 October 2026.
- ↑ Email thread "Ticket for peggy Siegel to Haiti event", 14 May 2012, EFTA02168845, US Department of Justice, Epstein Files release, Data Set 10, justice.gov, accessed 21 October 2026.
- ↑ Email "Fwd: Can our Projects by Design team help new school in Haiti", 21 June 2012, EFTA01876296, US Department of Justice, Epstein Files release, Data Set 10, justice.gov, accessed 21 October 2026.
- ↑ Email "From Christina: Fwd: Project in Haiti: CEFOTAJ, SA", 22 June 2012, EFTA00938435, US Department of Justice, Epstein Files release, Data Set 9, justice.gov, accessed 21 October 2026.