Israeli President Isaac Herzog conducted a groundbreaking diplomatic mission to Panama City on May 6, 2026, marking the first time an Israeli head of state has officially visited the Central American nation. During the historic trip, Herzog and Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino committed to deepening collaboration across multiple sectors including security, commerce, technology, agriculture, innovation, health, and water management.
The Israeli leader received an official welcome at the Presidential Palace, where he participated in both private discussions and expanded bilateral talks with Mulino aimed at enhancing strategic partnerships between their nations.
Following their discussions, Herzog expressed gratitude for Panama’s longstanding support of Israel and highlighted the strong relationship between the countries.
“We will never forget how Panama stood with the Jewish people at the dawn of our statehood, supporting the historic resolution on Israel’s establishment, and formalizing relations just weeks after our independence,” Herzog said.
The Israeli president also spoke about his country’s ongoing conflict with Iran-supported organizations following the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack.
“Since the horrific massacre of October 7th, 2023, Israel has faced a multi-front war with Iran and its terror proxies, including Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis,” Herzog said. “We did not seek this war. But we will defend our people.”
Herzog cautioned that Iran’s influence reaches far beyond Middle Eastern borders and recalled Hezbollah’s 1994 bombing attack in Panama.
“Latin America has felt the long arm of Iranian terror,” he said. “Right here on Panama’s soil, Hezbollah murdered 20 innocent civilians in a horrific terror attack in 1994.”
“The international community cannot turn a blind eye to the chaos that the Iranian regime seeks to spread throughout the world,” he added.
The Israeli leader also commended President Trump’s approach to addressing Iran’s nuclear program, describing it as “courageous and necessary.”
Mulino characterized Herzog’s trip as “a historic milestone in Israel-Panama relations” and noted that the partnership between their countries has developed over more than seven decades based on “trust, mutual respect, and cooperation.”
Prior to the presidential meetings, Herzog visited the Panama Canal with Panamanian Foreign Minister Javier Martínez-Acha Vásquez, where he learned about the waterway’s strategic significance and potential areas for cooperation in trade, infrastructure, and innovation.
While at the canal, Herzog drew comparisons between Panama’s role in maintaining global shipping lanes and the disruptions to maritime traffic occurring in the Middle East.
“This is a beautiful example of how to lead and enable freedom of navigation and maritime freedom, as opposed to what we see in the Straits of Bab al-Mandab in the Red Sea, or in the Strait of Hormuz in the Gulf,” Herzog said. “We must all stand up firmly against any blockage of maritime capability and movement around the world.”
Vásquez described the visit as “a very historic and symbolic visit” and expressed Panama’s desire to strengthen partnerships with Israel in commerce and innovation.
Before traveling to Costa Rica to attend President-elect Laura Fernández Delgado’s inauguration, Herzog and First Lady Michal Herzog met with members of Panama’s Jewish community, including students and community leaders.
Speaking to Jewish students, Herzog emphasized the importance of community unity.
“Our unity means a lot,” he said. “Our enemies don’t differentiate between the way we practice Judaism, and Jews all over the world should have the full right to practice their Judaism without harassment, without fear.”
