Chile’s push to rebuild closer ties with Israel is facing a domestic political test after controversial remarks by its ambassador in Tel Aviv, Gabriel Zaliasnik, angered the country’s large Palestinian community and raised questions over the government’s foreign policy.

The dispute has now reached parliament. On 8th September, the Chamber of Deputies approved an interpellation of Foreign Minister Francisco Pérez Mackenna by 57 votes to 49, with one abstention. The session is scheduled for 28th September, when Socialist lawmaker Nelson Venegas is expected to question the minister over Zaliasnik’s remarks, the government’s response, and its decision to keep the ambassador in his post.

The controversy began after Zaliasnik appeared in late August on the programme “Defending Israel”, hosted by David Harris, former executive director of the American Jewish Committee.

During the interview, Zaliasnik questioned commonly cited estimates of the size of Chile’s Palestinian community and discussed its political influence, suggesting that population figures had increased over the years and had been used for political purposes.

During the interview, Zaliasnik questioned commonly cited estimates of the size of Chile’s Palestinian community and discussed its political influence, suggesting that population figures had increased over the years and had been used for political purposes.

He also addressed the community’s presence and influence in Chilean public life.

Chilean media reported that Zaliasnik also criticised the foreign policy of former President Gabriel Boric and discussed the possibility of changes in Chile’s approach to voting on Middle East-related issues at the United Nations.

The remarks triggered anger within the Palestinian community, not only because of the dispute over population figures but also over the way an official Chilean ambassador portrayed citizens of Palestinian descent before an international audience.

📻 “Lo que ocurrió en esa entrevista no representa la opinión del gobierno” Sobre los dichos del embajador de Chile en Israel, Gabriel Zaliasnik, respecto a la comunidad Palestina, en #MesaCentral conversamos con Francisco Pérez Mackenna, ministro de Relaciones Exteriores.… pic.twitter.com/tywYkBSFTk — Tele13 Radio (@Tele13_Radio) September 4, 2026

📻 “Lo que ocurrió en esa entrevista no representa la opinión del gobierno”

Sobre los dichos del embajador de Chile en Israel, Gabriel Zaliasnik, respecto a la comunidad Palestina, en #MesaCentral conversamos con Francisco Pérez Mackenna, ministro de Relaciones Exteriores.… pic.twitter.com/tywYkBSFTk

— Tele13 Radio (@Tele13_Radio) September 4, 2026

Former Chilean Ambassador Nelson Hadad told MEMO that the controversy had caused deep concern within the Palestinian........

© Middle East Monitor