Dateline Southern California — Not many are aware, but Mexico and Israel always have had close ties. Last night on a visit to one of California's southern-most cities, on the Mexican border, I thoroughly enjoyed a glatt kosher Mexican/Israeli dinner. The menu offered traditional Israeli food as well as Mexican and South American dishes. A fantastic combination. Mexican food is becoming popular in Israel. The slim fare available in Israel used to be merely nacho chips, guacamole and tortilla wraps with Israeli fillings like chicken schnitzel with diced tomatoes and tahina. Not exactly Mexican! But recently, Mexican restaurants with authentic Mexican food have opened in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Mexican food products can be found in supermarkets now. I have yet to go to a Mexican restaurant in Israel, but I have been to Argentinian and Brazilian restaurants.

Speaking to the restaurant owner last night, a Jew from Mexico City whose daughter is studying in a Jerusalem seminary, I thought about the relationship between Israel and Mexico especially since I have Mexican neighbors. When I came to Israel, I did not know Hebrew. I only could communicate with them in Spanish. My Spanish is not much better than my Hebrew, which means I sound like an idiot.

A Broad Relationship

In 1952, Israel and Mexico established diplomatic relations, including economic and trade issues, education, cultural matters, water conservation, tourism and security. Having been in law enforcement prior to becoming an attorney, I am interested in police and security issues. Israelis have advised the Mexican government on police training, prison security and the use of technology in law enforcement. Since the 1970s, Mexico has purchased weapons, airplanes, helicopters and missile boats from Israeli military contractors and the Israeli army.

According to Mexico's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Israel is Mexico's most important trading partner and investor in the Middle East. Since 2000, when the Mexico-Israel Free Trade Agreement was established, trade increased 80 percent. In 1997, the Rosario Castellanos Chair was established at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. A Mexican professor gives a course on Mexican social and political issues. Works of Mexico's most famous authors have been translated into Hebrew.

In 1960, in honor of Mexico's 150th anniversary of its independence, Israel renamed a Jerusalem street “Mexico Street.” Mexico Street became internationally known in 2002 because it was the site of one of the worst Palestinian suicide bus bombings. Israeli children were murdered on their way to school. Tel Aviv's Faculty of Arts has a Mexico Building with a sculpture garden. To celebrate the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between with Israel, Mexico City gifted the sculpture “Wings” by artist Jorge Marin to the city of Tel Aviv. The statue stands at the Tel Aviv Port. There also is a Mexico Bridge, a covered pedestrian walkway with a plaque dedicating the bridge to Mexico, linking Ben Gurion University with the train station in Be'er Sheva.

L'hitraot. Hasta pronto. See you soon. Shachar