El Salvador’s Enduring Friendship With Israel

Israel and El Salvador are building closer ties. The city of Ramla, situated 13 miles from Tel Aviv, has become home to a new symbol of the deep friendship between the two countries with the recent inauguration of the “Plaza República de El Salvador” (Republic of El Salvador Square). Organized by the Embassy of El Salvador in Israel in collaboration with the Ramla Municipality, this public square represents a milestone in the two nations’ shared commitment to fostering diplomatic, cultural, and humanitarian ties through impactful public diplomacy initiatives driven by El Salvador’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The ceremony, led by Salvadoran Ambassador Héctor Celarié, highlighted the plaza’s role as a testament to the enduring bonds between the two countries. “This space reflects El Salvador’s firm commitment to strengthening friendship and cooperation with Israel,” Celarié stated. He expressed hope that the plaza would serve as a gathering point for the small but vibrant Salvadoran diaspora in Israel. “We envision this as a place of encounter, exchange, memory, and collaboration, especially in Ramla, known as Israel’s ‘city of the world,’” he added.

Colonel José Arturo Castellanos, The El Salvadoran Who Rescued Jews From the Holocaust

Central to the event was the celebration of Colonel José Arturo Castellanos, a Salvadoran diplomat whose heroic actions during World War II have left an indelible mark on the relationship between El Salvador and Israel. Born in 1893 to a Catholic military family in El Salvador, Castellanos followed in his father’s footsteps, joining the army and later pursuing a diplomatic career. In 1938, while stationed in Germany, he witnessed the escalating persecution of Jews under the Nazi regime. Deeply moved and outraged, he repeatedly requested permission from his government to issue visas to help Jews escape, but his pleas were denied. Undeterred, Castellanos took matters into his own hands upon his appointment as consul general in Geneva in 1942.

In a remarkable act of courage, Castellanos, alongside George Mandel-Mantello, born into a Jewish family from Transylvania, whom he appointed as first secretary of the consulate, orchestrated a clandestine operation to issue over 13,000 Salvadoran nationality certificates and passports. These documents, provided free of charge, granted Jews in countries such as France, Hungary, Germany, Holland, Slovakia, and Romania protection under El Salvador’s neutral status during the war. A single certificate could save an entire family, and through this effort, Castellanos is credited with saving approximately 40,000 Jewish lives between 1942 and 1945. His defiance of orders from his government exemplified moral courage, and his legacy was further supported after 1944 when El Salvador’s new president, Salvador Castaneda Castro, endorsed the protection of Jews, in places like Hungary. Thousands of these life-saving certificates are now displayed at the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C.

In 2010, Israel’s Yad Vashem honored Castellanos posthumously with the prestigious recognition as “Righteous Among the Nations.” A street in Jerusalem bearing his name stands as a lasting tribute. In 2017, the embassies of Israel and El Salvador to the Holy See held an event in Rome to honor his memory, featuring a testimony from a Jewish survivor who escaped thanks to Salvadoran citizenship.

Recently, on July 3, the Embassy of El Salvador to the Holy See marked the 80th anniversary of World War II’s end with a tribute to Castellanos, at the Basilica of Sant’Antonio al Laterano in Rome. The event featured “El Rescate” (“The Rescue”), a documentary film blended with live music produced by Castellanos’ grandsons, Álvaro and Boris Castellanos, as part of the 2025 Jubilee Year “Pilgrims of Hope.” Salvadoran Ambassador Anabella Machuca described Castellanos as “an example of integrity and moral courage.” The presence of Castellanos’ daughter, Ruth, added profound meaning to the occasion, attended by Vatican officials and the Salvadoran community.

Friendship Tree

The Ramla plaza’s inauguration, attended by diplomats, local authorities, special guests, and the Salvadoran diaspora, included a symbolic ceremony with a “friendship tree,” a foundational parchment, and a cornerstone, placed adjacent to the existing “Plaza Perú.” Ramla’s Mayor, Michael Vidal, praised the initiative, stating, “This plaza is not only a tribute to diplomacy but to humanity. El Salvador’s support for Israel, both before its founding and today, reflects principles of truth, justice, and compassion, especially in challenging times.” Vidal emphasized the plaza as a symbol of the authentic friendship that has endured through shared values and history.

Ambassador Celarié also highlighted El Salvador’s ongoing transformation under President Nayib Bukele, whose leadership is elevating the nation’s global presence. “We are a country reborn, guided by a vision that transcends borders,” he said, expressing gratitude to Mayor Vidal for embracing the plaza as a symbol of mutual respect, collaboration, and hope.

It is worth noting that, following the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, President Bukele, who is of Palestinian descent, strongly condemned the massacre. On October 9, 2023, Bukele took to social media platform X to denounce Hamas, stating, “As a Salvadoran with Palestinian ancestry, I'm sure the best thing that could happen to the Palestinian people is for Hamas to completely disappear. Those savage beasts do not represent the Palestinians.” He then likened Hamas to El Salvador’s notorious MS-13 gang, framing both as criminal entities that harm their own communities. “Anyone who supports the Palestinian cause would make a great mistake siding with those criminals. It would be like if Salvadorans would have sided with MS13 terrorists, just because we share ancestors or nationality. The best thing that happened to us as a nation was to get rid of those rapists and murderers, and let the good people thrive. Palestinians should do the same: get rid of those animals and let the good people thrive. That's the only way forward,” he courageously stressed.

Bukele’s stance, coupled with El Salvador’s historical legacy of figures like Colonel José Arturo Castellanos - who saved 40,000 Jews during the Holocaust - reinforces the deep bonds between the two nations.

The “Plaza República de El Salvador” stands as a powerful testament to the shared history and values uniting Israel and El Salvador, with Castellanos’ extraordinary legacy at its heart - a beacon of humanity that continues to inspire generations of Salvadorans.