Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections to Belize
Belize: its tiny Jewish community and Chabad house, the suspension of diplomatic activity with the Israeli state in 2023, and its intervention in the ICJ genocide case
Belize has a Jewish community of fewer than 50 people.[1] In November 2023 its government suspended diplomatic activity with "Israel" over the bombing of Gaza,[2] and in January 2025 it applied to intervene in South Africa's genocide case against "Israel" at the International Court of Justice.[3]
Jewish community and religious life
The World Jewish Congress has no page on Belize. The US State Department says the Jewish community numbers fewer than 50.[1]
Chabad
- Main article: Chabad-Lubavitch movement
Powerbase does not yet have a page on Chabad in Belize. Chabad House Belize, founded in 2016, describes itself as "the first and only Jewish institution in the country", serving as a community and travellers' centre with kosher food and Shabbat and holiday services.[4]
How far is it Zionist? No information.
Israeli state and commercial ties
Diplomacy
- The Israeli foreign ministry's 2011 list records relations established in January 1981, with Belize covered by the Israeli ambassador in El Salvador and an honorary consul in Belize City.[5]
- On 14 November 2023 the government, with Cabinet approval, said the Israeli army had "engaged in unceasing indiscriminate bombing in Gaza". It withdrew its agrément for the Israeli ambassador-designate, Einat Kranz-Neiger, suspended the Israeli honorary consulate in Belize and its own honorary consulate in Tel Aviv, and withdrew a request to accredit a new honorary consul.[2] Al Jazeera reported the move as a suspension of ties.[6]
- On 30 January 2025 Belize applied to intervene in South Africa's case against "Israel" under the Genocide Convention, saying it had an interest "in ensuring that Israel is held accountable".[3] In March 2025 Prime Minister John Briceño said Belize had hoped CARICOM and Central American states would join it in pausing relations with "Israel", but "Nobody did".[7]
Arms
SIPRI records no Israeli arms transfers to Belize.[8]
Trade
The Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics does not list Belize separately in its trade-by-country table.[9]
Migration and aliyah
The Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics does not list Belize separately; it is included under "other countries".[10]
Political interference
UN voting
Belize voted for the General Assembly's endorsement of the New York Declaration on a two-state solution in September 2025.[11]
Jeffrey Epstein
- On 8 March 2010 Epstein wrote to Peter Mandelson that "Ashcrofts 'British Caribbean Bank', would be easier to trash", and that "his- Stargate co ( Belize ) transfers to the Turks , banks , might fall into new categories of reporting/laundering". He added that Ashcroft did not control or own Stargate but was "a discretionary beneficiary of a trust controlled by his local lawyers".[12]
- In June 2017 a correspondent told Epstein that the Belize property market was "emerging", that developers lacked financiers, and that it was "a great tax shelter"; Epstein replied that he would look into it.[13]
See also
- Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections to Guatemala
- Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections to Honduras
- Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections to El Salvador
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 US Department of State, 2023 Report on International Religious Freedom: Belize state.gov, 2024.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Government of Belize Press Office, Belize Takes Measures against Israel pressoffice.gov.bz, 14 November 2023 (Belizean government-side).
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 UNISPAL, Belize files a document containing an application for permission to intervene and a declaration of intervention in the proceedings (ICJ press release), 31 January 2025.
- ↑ Chabad of Belize, About and Contact chabadbelize.org, accessed 21 October 2026 (Chabad-side).
- ↑ Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Diplomatic Missions Abroad: Status of relations mfa.gov.il, archived 5 August 2011 (Israeli government-side).
- ↑ Belize joins diplomatic backlash against Israel over Gaza bombardment Al Jazeera, 15 November 2023.
- ↑ Brianna Bennett, PM Says Belize Still Supports Palestine Greater Belize Media, 1 March 2025.
- ↑ 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 from Jeffrey Epstein to Peter Mandelson, 8 March 2010, EFTA01825460, US Department of Justice, Epstein Files release, Data Set 10, justice.gov, accessed 21 October 2026.
- ↑ Email thread "Re: Belize opportunity", 6 June 2017, EFTA01043933, US Department of Justice, Epstein Files release, Data Set 9, justice.gov, accessed 21 October 2026.