Israel citizen to contest Guatemala presidency

An Israeli is to stand in the upcoming presidential election in Guatemala, the Times of Israel reported.

Yitzhak Farhi, who grew in the Central American country, is among the founders of the National Advancement Party (PAN) which fielded two presidents in the 1990s.

The 58-year-old moved to Israel 12 years ago but will be moving back to Guatemala to fun in  the June elections. If he fails in his bid to serve as government chief, Farhi plans to return to Israel, he told Ynet News.

שאיפות גבוהות: הכירו את יצחק פרחי – הישראלי מרעננה שרץ לנשיאות גואטמלהhttps://t.co/qJ5RruGBGp pic.twitter.com/utPclsZdPy

— ידיעות אחרונות (@YediotAhronot) March 7, 2019

Guatemala opened its embassy to Israel in occupied Jerusalem in early May. The move came after the US announced that it would be moving its embassy from Tel Aviv on the 70th anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba, when nearly a million Palestinians were forced out of their homes to make way for the creation of the state of Israel. Israel celebrates this as its independence day.

Guatemala: City to name all streets after places in Israel