Costa Rica’s Jews Upset By Embassy Move
Costa Rica’s Jewish community reacted with disappointment, resignation and a bit of anger to the government’s decision to move its embassy in Israel out of Jerusalem.

Costa Rican Jews had been prepared for the announcement, made last week by President Oscar Arias. However, they were upset by its timing, less than 72 hours after a U.N.-brokered cease-fire took effect in southern Lebanon. Arias, who took office in May, had promised during his campaign to move the embassy.

Costa Rica will move it's embassy in Israel from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv.

“The Jewish community of Costa Rica considers the president’s decision to be inopportune since, in light of recent events, it could be erroneously interpreted as tacit support for terrorist organizations that aim for the elimination of a sovereign or independent state,” the Orthodox, 2,500-member Israeli-Zionist Center, the country’s main synagogue, said in a rare public declaration.

In a statement published Saturday in the Spanish language daily, La Nación, Costa Rica’s major newspaper, Arias said his decision was based on “international legality” and aimed “to rectify a historic error that damages us on the international level and denies us almost all forms of friendship with the Arab world.”

No predominantly Muslim country has an embassy in Costa Rica.

While the Jewish community leadership has been diplomatic in its response, some in the community openly questioned Arias’ action.

“What he did was a slap in the face,” said community member Moises Flachler, who was particularly upset that Arias announced the move at a ceremony commemorating his 100th day in office.

The move came at a time of transition for Israeli diplomacy in Costa Rica. Long-time Ambassador Alexander Ben-Zvi returned to Israel at the end of his tour a week before the announcement. Ambassador-designate Ehud Eitan has yet to present his credentials.

Costa Rica had moved its embassy to Jerusalem in 1982 at the behest of Father Benjamin Nunez, a staunch Zionist, Costa Rica’s ambassador to Israel and a founding member of Arias’ National Liberation Party. The embassy remained there during Arias’ first term in office from 1986 to 1990 and even after Nunez’s death in 1994.