Ambassador Rejects Israel Mexico Criticism
Yoed Magen calls recent social media claims about water control and school visits a coordinated disinformation effort.
By Larissa Bell ·
Israel’s ambassador to Mexico, Yoed Magen, rejected accusations that his country is stealing water or infiltrating schools in a southern state. Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Magen described the recent wave of criticism on social media as an orchestrated campaign funded to delegitimize Israel.
The diplomat stated that the claims include what he called ridiculous accusations, such as the idea that Israel wants to control Mexico’s water supply or colonize the country. He said these narratives distort reality and create a false perception of the relationship between the two nations.
Magen addressed the water allegations by citing Israel’s track record in water management. He noted that Israel became self-sufficient in water more than 25 years ago and now supplies water to neighbors including Jordan and Palestinians. The country collects and treats 94 percent of its wastewater and reuses 87 percent of it, he said.
The ambassador explained that Israeli experts are invited to Mexican states to share knowledge on irrigation research and precision agriculture. He referenced a recent trip by Israeli representatives to the Agro Expo in Yucatán as an example of this technical exchange.
Specific claims about the northern state of Chihuahua date back to a 2023 cooperation agreement between the state government and Israel’s international development agency, MASHAV. Activists criticized the deal over concerns of foreign involvement in water infrastructure. Magen said the agreement was intended to use Israeli expertise to address local challenges, but the operational component was never signed or implemented.
The issue has sparked local protests in recent months. A large march took place at the start of August where demonstrators carried signs reading 'Water is for Mexicans, not for Zionists.' Magen dismissed the notion that Israel seeks control over Chihuahua’s water resources, stating that the goal was simply to address the state's water challenges.
In the southern state of Chiapas, social media posts claimed that Israeli soldiers were authorized to enter an indigenous school. Pro-Palestinian groups called for an investigation into the presence of Israelis in Zinacantán, San Cristóbal de Las Casas, and Chamula. Photographs circulated online showed about 25 individuals identified as IDF members alongside Tsotsil children during school activities.
The visitors were coordinated by the Israeli nonprofit Heroes for Life, which organizes two-week humanitarian trips for Israeli backpackers and recently discharged soldiers. The group reportedly helped renovate and paint schools and taught English, science, and music classes. Magen noted that thousands of Israelis travel through Latin America on their post-military trip and often volunteer in schools and communities.
On November 3, the Chiapas Education Department denied authorizing current or former IDF members to enter public schools in the Los Altos region. Department head Roger Adrián Mandujano Ayala told the press that members of a foreign organization were present at a school, but their entry appeared to have been arranged directly with parents.
Magen closed the press conference by expressing hope that his explanations will clear up misunderstandings caused by what he described as a campaign of hatred. He said the campaign seeks to damage the relations between the Israeli and Mexican peoples.
