Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's wife, Sara, who is on a rare solo diplomatic mission in Central America, joined Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales and his wife, Patricia, on Tuesday in launching a major health campaign in the country.
The project, the brainchild of the Guatemalan Jewish community, is named "Jerusalem" and aims to provide aid to millions of Guatemalan children in need of medication and lifesaving treatments, local media reported.
Netanyahu arrived in Guatemala City on Monday evening with an official Foreign Ministry delegation. The six-day visit is expected to focus on natural disaster relief.
Israel was one of the first countries to send emergency medical aid and search and rescue teams to Guatemala after volcanic explosions last June left nearly 200 people dead.
Alongside a slew of Guatemalan dignitaries, Tuesday's dedication ceremony was attended by Netanyahu, Cabinet Secretary Tzachi Braverman, Israel's Ambassador to Guatemala Mattanya Cohen and head of the Latin American and Caribbean Division at the Foreign Ministry Modi Ephraim.
A statement by the Prime Minister's Office said that Netanyahu attended the event at the invitation of Guatemalan first lady Patricia Marroquín, as part of the two nations' bid to strengthen their decadeslong friendship.
"As part of the visit, the prime minister's wife and the Israeli delegation were invited to participate in an official event about drinking water and natural disaster relief, in light of the assistance Israel provided to Guatemala after the disaster of the Volcán de Fuego eruption six months ago," the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement.
The prime minister's wife was also been invited to lay the cornerstone for a new neighborhood for people left homeless by the volcanic eruptions, the statement noted.
Speaking at Tuesday's event, Netanyahu said, "I am delighted to be here today, at the launch of the medical campaign for the children of Guatemala. This campaign has a direct impact on the health of millions of infants and children. We seek to save lives, thus ensuring the children's future, in this generation and in future generations.
"I would like to thank the Guatemalan president's wife, my dear friend Patricia [Marroquín] Morales, for inviting me to participate in this important campaign," she continued. "With this visit, we deepen the friendship between our two countries, which began 70 years ago. Guatemala was the second country in the world to recognize the State of Israel. We are strengthening our relations with our allies, including Guatemala. Today we are adding new layers to the wonderful partnership building between Israel and Guatemala.
"Mr. President, our friend Jimmy, our nation will always remember the wonderful friendship of you, your wife and the people of Guatemala towards the State of Israel. Thank you very much," Netanyahu concluded.
